10/31/2023
The Newland Oak Gloucestershire in England: The oak tree's origins trace back to around 1000 AD, believed to have been a part of the expansive Forest of Dean, an ancient woodland that once covered a significant portion of Western Gloucestershire.
This oak, specifically an English oak known as Quercus robur, found itself within this wooded expanse. Over time, much of the forest was cleared, giving rise to the neighboring settlement of Newland, named for the land reclaimed from the forest's embrace.
Eventually, the tree stood solitary in a field belonging to Spouts Farm, situated approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Newland Church. Throughout its existence, this tree was pollarded for its timber, and it carried the name "Great Oak."
The tree's stature earned it a degree of fame as one of the country's largest oaks. In 1839, the antiquary John Timbs dubbed it "one of the most remarkable trees in the country." An engraving of the tree even found its place in P. J. Ducarel's collection of poetry, De Wyrhale, in 1836. By 1874, the oak was noted as "battered and decaying," yet naturalist Edwin Lees speculated that it might endure for another 500 years.
Tragedy struck in May 1955, as heavy snowfall caused significant portions of the tree's structure to collapse. By 1964, the tree was described as "long much-decayed." Though one live branch endured, it fell victim to an arson attack in 1970.
However, a beacon of hope emerged in the form of a replacement tree, grown from an acorn of the original Newland Oak. On December 21, 1964, Cyril Hart, verderer of the Forest of Dean, planted this replacement tree, which continues to thrive. Even in 2011, a partly decayed segment of the original trunk remained visible, serving as a tangible connection to history.
https://ruralhistoria.com/2023/10/18/a-victory-and-1-2-million-oak-trees/
