Survival at the cutting edge oak
Species: Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
Age: Approx65yearsold. years
Region: National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK
“When I was born what is now the National Botanic Garden was 7 starter farms. To earn pocket money at the age of 14 I was given the job of clearing an overgrown paddock. Armed with a scythe, I cleared vast tracts of it, until I developed an excruciating pain in my elbow and had to stop. On my return two days later, the farmer reminded me (though they hadn’t said before) not to cut down the oak tree in the paddock. So, but for my elbow, I would have destroyed this beautiful tree.” Terry Treharne
Tree of the year 2016
237 votes
14th place