Allerton Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allerton Oak |
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The Allerton Oak in March 2009
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| Species | Irish oak (Quercus petraea) |
| Location | Calderstones Park Liverpool, England |
| Coordinates | 53°22′57″N 2°53′34″W / 53.3826°N 2.8928°W |
| Date seeded | Circa 1000 AD |
The Allerton Oak is a very old Irish oak tree. You can find it in Calderstones Park in Liverpool, England. People think it's about 1,000 years old, making it the oldest oak tree in North West England.
This famous tree is said to have been a meeting place for a medieval hundred court. This was like an old-time local court. It was also reportedly damaged by a big gunpowder explosion in 1864. In 2019, the Allerton Oak won the English Tree of the Year competition. It was then entered into the 2020 European Tree of the Year competition.
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The Allerton Oak's Long Life
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The Allerton Oak is about 1,000 years old. This means it was growing even before the Normans arrived in England in 1066! The tree is very healthy. Its trunk is about 5.5 meters (18 feet) around. Every year, it produces around 100,000 acorns.
Stories from the Past
People say that a medieval hundred court used to meet under the Allerton Oak's branches. A hundred court was a local meeting where important decisions were made. However, some people think these meetings might have happened at a nearby ancient burial site instead.
The tree is also linked to a big explosion in 1864. A ship called the Lottie Sleigh was carrying 11 tonnes of gunpowder. It exploded on the River Mersey, about 3 miles (5 km) away. The blast was so strong it broke windows in a nearby house. It's believed to have caused a large crack in the tree's trunk, making it weaker.
Becoming a Park Landmark
The Allerton Oak and the land it stands on belonged to Henry and Charles MacIver. They owned it from 1875 until 1902. Then, they gave the land to Liverpool to create Calderstones Park. The tree quickly became a special landmark.
During the Second World War, soldiers from the area were sent acorns and leaves from the tree. These were good luck charms from their friends and family. Because of this, new trees grown from the Allerton Oak's seeds are now found all over the world. In 1970, a report suggested the tree might die by 2020 because of rot. But, it was still doing very well in 2014!
Protecting the Tree
In 2007, an acorn from the Allerton Oak was planted. This new tree is called "Allerton Oak the Younger." These two are the only Irish oak trees in the park. The Allerton Oak's branches have been held up by metal supports since 1907. A fence also protects it from damage.
In 2019, Liverpool City Council and Mersey Forest started a project to replace the old supports. They are spending £80,000 on a new system. This new system can be adjusted as the tree grows. The Woodland Trust called the Allerton Oak "a spectacular example of a city tree." In 2019, they estimated its value at £500,000.
Tree of the Year Winner
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The Allerton Oak was entered into the Tree of the Year competition in 2019. It won the England category! It received 34% of the 11,000 votes. Then, it was chosen from all the British winners to represent the UK in the 2020 European Tree of the Year competition. The tree also won a £1,000 grant from the People's Postcode Lottery. This money helps pay for its care and upkeep.
