Gilwell Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gilwell Oak |
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| Owner | The Scout Association | ||
| Location | Gilwell Park | ||
| Country | England | ||
| Coordinates | 51°39′1″N 0°0′8″E / 51.65028°N 0.00222°E | ||
| Founded | Unknown | ||
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The Gilwell Oak is a very old and famous oak tree. It stands on the land of Gilwell Park in Essex, England. This park is the main home for The Scout Association. People say that a famous highwayman named Dick Turpin once used this tree as a hiding spot. For over 100 years, the Gilwell Oak has been a special symbol for the Scout movement.
The tree is near the place where the first Scout leaders were trained. Its wood was even used to make some of the very first Wood Badges. These beads are given to leaders who complete their training. The Gilwell Oak also gave Robert Baden-Powell, who started Scouting, an idea. He created a story called "the moral of the acorn and the oak." This story explains how Scouting grew from a small idea into a huge worldwide movement. It also shows how young people grow and develop through Scouting. In 2017, the Gilwell Oak was voted England's Tree of the Year by the public. Later, experts chose it as the UK Tree of the Year.
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About the Gilwell Oak
The Gilwell Oak is a type of tree called a Common or English Oak. It is believed to be very old, somewhere between 450 and 550 years old. You can find it in Gilwell Park. This park used to be a large country estate in Epping Forest. The Scout Association bought it in 1919 to use as their main headquarters.
Long ago, in the 1700s, there was a famous highwayman named Dick Turpin. People say he used the Gilwell Oak to hide. From there, he would surprise stagecoaches as they passed by.
A Special Tree for Scouts
The Gilwell Oak stands right at the edge of Gilwell Park's training area. This is where the very first training courses for Scout leaders took place. The Wood Badge is a special set of beads that leaders receive after finishing their training. These beads have a strong connection to the Gilwell Oak.
Even though the first Wood Badge beads came from Africa, from a person named Dinizulu, the Gilwell Oak played a role too. Branches that fell from the Gilwell Oak were carved into early Wood Badges. These were given to leaders who trained at Gilwell Park. Today, Wood Badges are made from other materials. However, special beads carved from the Gilwell Oak are sold as souvenirs to certified leaders.
The Acorn and the Oak Story
Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, found inspiration in the Gilwell Oak. Around 1929, he wrote "the moral of the acorn and the oak." This story teaches that "big things were possible from modest beginnings."
Baden-Powell explained that an oak tree starts as a tiny acorn and grows into a mighty tree. He said this was like the growth of Scouting. It began with a small camp on Brownsea Island Scout camp in 1907. From that small start, it grew into a huge organization all over the world. He also said it was like the personal growth of a young person as they go through the Scouting movement.
A Symbol for Scouting
Bear Grylls, who is the Chief Scout of The Scout Association, spoke about the tree. He said, "The Gilwell Oak has been the backdrop to hundreds of courses. Thousands of volunteer leaders have been inspired and motivated there to change young people's lives. It's the unbending symbol of Scouting's desire to change the world for the better."
The Gilwell Oak is a very important landmark at Gilwell Park. Hundreds of Scouts visit it every year. Some even take a leaf or an acorn from the tree as a special souvenir of their visit.
Gilwell Oak: Tree of the Year 2017
The Gilwell Oak was chosen to be a nominee for English Tree of the Year 2017. It competed against nine other trees. The public voted, and the Gilwell Oak received 26% of the 7,000 votes. This made it the winner!
After winning in England, it was then chosen as the UK Tree of the Year. A group of experts picked it from the winners of the four different parts of the UK. The Gilwell Oak then represented the UK in the European Tree of the Year Awards. It came in fifth place, receiving 12,955 votes. To celebrate the tree's win, The Scout Association was given a small model of the tree.
