 |
Didcot's oaks and other notable trees |
Didcot's oaks
and other notable trees |
The most venerable and the most magnificent
TOP FIFTY
An ancient yew, the tallest trees, and the fifty largest/oldest oaks
MAP
Click / tap pins or zoom in to see tree identity
Click icon at top left of map header to list and select trees
To switch to satellite view, with the slider open, scroll down and click the square satellite icon.
To view the map full-screen, click the top right 'expand' icon.
ESTIMATING THE AGE OF AN OAK
The approximate age of some species of tree can be calculated from measuring girth – usually at 1.5m above ground level – sometimes referred to as CBH – Circumference at Breast Height. There are many factors influencing the relationship between girth and age – the host country's climate and how this compares to a tree's native country, soil conditions, sunlight, precipitation, shelter from wind and frost, and nearness of other trees that compete for sunlight and water. For these reasons, any estimate of age can only be approximate. I measured the girth of as many of the large oaks that are recorded on this website as I could, and are publicly accessible. The Woodland Trust publishes this
tree age ready reckoner but is based on relatively few data points (as there are not many large trees for which the exact age is known) so I interpolated the data points on my graph below, and used this to derive all the estimated tree ages on this website. Below the graph is a calculator which automates the working of the graph, and enables the calculation of approximate oak age and date when the tree started growing.
Most measurements were carried out in 2020. In the case of oaks with multiple stems, I sent photographs to the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory expert, who has judged whether a tree has multiple stems, or whether it is two trees that have grown close together. It also appears that in the case of twin-stem trees, the girth of the largest stem is a reasonably accurate estimate of age, but that estimation of age from girth is an approximate science for all trees in any case, for the reasons stated above.
OLDEST – AN ANCIENT YEW
Click / tap photos to enlarge / close
Click / tap to go to a map for each tree:
Public access Inaccessible
THE YEW IN ALL SAINTS' CHURCHYARD
Lydalls Road
The yew near the entrance to All Saints' Church is said to be the second oldest yew in the UK, with different sources estimating its age at 1,000, 1,200 and 1,600 years old. The first part of the church dates from 1160. This tree has suffered from vandals and arson attacks over the years, but in an altered shape continues to survive. The yew is one of three trees in Didcot to be registered on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory (the others being oaks 1 and 4 below) and is protected by TPO 80S04T5.
MORE INFO
TPO: 80S04T5 + Cons. Area
The tallest tree in Didcot is probably at the Northbourne Centre, Church Street – a giant sequoia measuring (by trigonometry) about 25m (80 feet) high. The sequoia (also called Wellingtonia) is native to California, where specimens often grow over 80m (260 feet) tall. Didcot has several other similar trees in the Richmead estate west of Marsh Rec, but these are in private land.
One of the tallest Didcot trees of a species native to the UK is a lime tree growing near the entrance to Didcot Hospital. This is 18m (60 feet) tall. If you know of a taller tree, please let me know via the link in the footer of this page.
Giant sequoia at Northbourne
Centre, Church Street
THE TOP 50 LARGEST OAKS
Numbers on map above tally with list below
UPDATE APRIL 2021: On first launch of this website in early March 2021, the Top 20 largest / oldest oak trees were presented here, which roughly equate to all oaks in Didcot over 150 years old. Recent discoveries have been added to the website, including a page on Valley Park, and an update to the Eastern Didcot page covering part of the footpath to Long Wittenham. This has revealed 22 more oaks over 150 years old. Rather than display the latest Top 20, it seems more valuable to retain the original Top 20 (numbered on the first photo in white) along with latest discoveries (numbered in yellow) to aid those who have already used this website to visit the original Top 20. So currently the page has 43 entries, hence renaming it Top 50 and leaving space for future discoveries.
NUMBER 1 – THE LARGEST AND OLDEST OAK
The oak that grows on the northern perimeter of Edmonds Park is Didcot's largest tree and oldest oak. With a girth of 541cm measured in 2020, its age is estimated at 340 years, meaning that it started growing in about 1680. It is recorded on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory. The largest oaks in Britain are recorded by the Woodland Trust – five have a girth larger than 12m, the largest being the Marton Oak in Cheshire which has a girth of just over 14m. As mature oaks move into old age, they tend to become stouter and less high.
1
Edmonds Park northern
perimeter – largest tree
Girth 541 cm in 2020
340 years = 1680
NUMBER 2
This ancient oak – now reduced to a rotten stump – is still alive! Its girth of 442 cm makes it the second-oldest oak in Didcot. It can be found on the brick path, north east of the Ladygrove Lakes.
2
Ladygrove lakes living stump
TPO: no
NUMBER 3
3
GWP north wood
TPO: 06S23W1
Tree near entrance
TPO: 06S23T1
Girth 432 cm in 2020
232 years = 1788
NUMBER 4
4
Long Wittenham path: tree
15 after first field
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 426 cm in 2020
225 years = 1795
NUMBER 5
5
Girth 406 cm in 2020
210 years = 1810
NUMBER 6
6
Girth 404 cm
207 years = 1813
NUMBER 7
7
GWP south Bluebell Lane,
west end Stubbings Land
TPO: 15S05T6
Woodland Trust recorded
Girth 392 cm in 2020
200 years = 1820
NUMBER 8
8
Willowbrook N/S row of 6
Franklin Gardens
TPO: 17S16G8
4th tree from south / right
Largest 386 cm in 2020
190 years = 1830
NUMBER 9
9
Wittenham path tree 26
Protected by N Wessex AONB
Girth 386 cm
190 years = 1830
NUMBER 10
10
Valley Park tree 205 (centre)
TPO: 21V07T19
Girth 386 cm in 2020
190 years = 1830
Girth 386 cm in 2020
190 years = 1830
NUMBER 11
11
Valley Park tree 203 (right)
TPO: 21V07T20
Girth 377 cm in 2020
185 years = 1835
Girth 377 cm in 2020
185 years = 1835
NUMBER 12
12
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 377 cm
185 years = 1835
NUMBER 13
13
Willowbrook field SW corner
field W of Franklin Gardens
Girth 375 cm in 2020
185 years = 1835
NUMBER 14
14
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 374 cm
185 years = 1835
NUMBER 15
15
South Moreton footpath
T1 nearest path on left
TPO: 19S29T1-T5
T2-T5 on private farm land
T1 Girth 372 cm in 2020
185 years = 1935
NUMBER 16
16
West Hagbourne path 10
adjoining Stubbings Land
TPO: no
Only partly accessible
Girth 370 cm
180 years = 1840
NUMBER 17
17
GWP north wood tree Ⅰ
TPO: 06S23W1
Girth 368 cm (ivy) 2020
180 years = 1840
Sketch of eastern part.
Beware slope and hazards
NUMBER 18
18
Edmonds Park NW
perimeter
TPO: 08S21T1
Only park tree with TPO
Girth 360 cm in 2020
170 years = 1850
NUMBER 19
19
Ladygrove Wood "The Bower"
Access N of Trent Road
TPO wood: 09S118W1 and
tree: 09S118T23 revoked
Girth 357 cm in 2020
170 years = 1850
NUMBER 20
20
Marsh Rec row of oaks
Lower Broadway
Largest 355 cm in 2020
170 years = 1850
NUMBER 21
21
Wittenham path tree 11
after first field
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 355 cm in 2020
170 years = 1850
NUMBER 22
22
Girth 354 cm
170 years = 1850
NUMBER 23
23
GWP S Sorrel Crescent
near Tom Gaughan Way
Girth 351 cm in 2020
165 years = 1855
NUMBER 24
24
Edmonds Park NNW
Leaning, pruned at 5m
Girth 351 cm in 2020
165 years = 1855
NUMBER 25
25
Wittenham path first field
(right)
Girth 349 cm
165 years = 1855
NUMBER 26
26
Wittenham path first field
Girth 347 cm
162 years = 1858
NUMBER 27
27
Wittenham path first field
Girth 346 cm
160 years = 1860 (left)
NUMBER 28
28
Didcot Hospital tree 7
160 years = 1860 (left)
Didcot Hospital tree 7
160 years = 1860 (left)
NUMBER 29
29
Valley Park tree 207 (left)
TPO: 21V07T18
Girth 346 cm in 2020
160 years = 1860
Girth 346 cm in 2020
160 years = 1860
NUMBER 30
30
Girth 345 cm in 2020
160 years = 1860
NUMBER 31
31
Edmonds Park east of pair
nearest NE park corner
Broadest 345 cm in 2020
160 years = 1860
NUMBER 32
32
Wittenham path tree 36
160 years = 1860
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 340 cm
160 years = 1860
NUMBER 33
33
Wittenham path tree 13
(left)
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 338 cm in 2020
160 years = 1860
NUMBER 34
34
Wantage Road roundabout
Foxhall / Park Road
Girth 337 cm in 2020
160 years = 1860
NUMBER 35
35
Wantage Road (opposite 98)
Girth 334 cm in 2020
155 years = 1865
NUMBER 36
36
Didcot Hospital tree 6 (twin)
155 years = 1865 (right)
Didcot Hospital tree 6 (twin)
155 years = 1865 (right)
NUMBER 37
37
Didcot Hospital tree 2
TPO: no
Girth 331 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
NUMBER 38
38
Wantage Road (opposite 118)
Girth 330 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
NUMBER 39
39
Edmonds Park E by Didcot
Wave Leisure Pool
Girth 330 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
NUMBER 40
40
Oakend Lea largest in
group S of road
Largest 330 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
NUMBER 41
41
Girth 330 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
NUMBER 42
42
Wittenham path
single tree in field
TPO: protected as tree
is in N Wessex AONB
Girth 330 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
NUMBER 43
43
West Hagbourne path oak 3
Girth 329 cm in 2020
150 years = 1870
HAVE YOU FOUND A LARGER ONE?
If you've discovered and measured an oak tree with a girth larger than 330cm at 1.3m above ground, and it's not on the list above, please let me know using the contact link in the footer below.
