Niel Gow's Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Niel Gow's Oak |
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View of the tree, bench and River Tay in 2010
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| Species | Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) |
| Location | near Dunkeld and Birnam, Perthshire, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°33′48″N 3°36′26″W / 56.5632°N 3.6072°W |
| Date seeded | circa 1700 |
| Custodian | Forestry Commission |
Niel Gow's Oak is a very old tree, about 300 years old, located near the towns of Dunkeld and Birnam in Perthshire, Scotland. This special tree is famous because of its strong connection to Niel Gow, a well-known Scottish fiddler and composer who lived nearby. People say that Gow composed many of his most famous tunes while sitting under this very oak tree. To remember this link, there's a plaque and a special bench at the site. The tree has even been part of exciting competitions like the Scottish and European Tree of the Year awards. Sadly, Niel Gow's Oak was damaged by big storms in 2011 and 2012.
Contents
What Kind of Tree is Niel Gow's Oak?
Niel Gow's Oak is a type of tree called a sessile oak (its scientific name is Quercus petraea). It's about 300 years old, which means it was growing even before Niel Gow was born! You can find it in Craigvinean Forest, on the south bank of the River Tay.
The tree is easy for people to visit. It's right on a public walking path called the Inver Walk, which is part of the Dunkeld Path Network. It stands between the path and the river, in a field where sheep and horses sometimes graze.
The Story of Niel Gow and His Tree
Niel Gow (1727–1807) was a famous Scottish fiddler. He lived in a nearby village called Inver and created many popular Scottish country dance tunes. The oak tree has been connected to Gow for a very long time, at least since 1855, when it was mentioned in a newspaper article.
People say that Gow loved to sit under this tree to compose his beautiful music. The story goes that the music was so clear, it could be heard from the other side of the River Tay by John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl. The Duke was so impressed that he paid Gow to play at his family events!
To honor this special connection, the Forestry Commission, which takes care of the tree and the land, placed a bench under the oak. The bench has words engraved on it: "sit beneath the fiddle tree, with the ghost of Niel Gow next to me." These words come from a song called "Niel Gow's Apprentice" by a Scottish singer-songwriter named Michael Marra.
Recent Events and Competitions
Niel Gow's Oak has been quite famous in recent years! In 2014, it was chosen to be the first tree from Scotland to enter the European Tree of the Year awards. It came in 7th place out of 10 trees, receiving 1,740 votes from people who loved its story. The tree was also one of the six finalists for Scotland's Tree of the Year in 2016.
Unfortunately, the tree faced some tough times. It was badly damaged by a big storm in December 2011, and then again in 2012. During the 2012 storm, falling branches destroyed the original carved bench that honored Niel Gow. But don't worry, a new replacement bench was put in place. It was officially shown to the public by Michael Marra's widow on March 25, 2013.
Images for kids
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Niel Gow, the famous fiddler
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A plaque at the site, telling the tree's story
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The original Gow bench after it was damaged by storms in 2012
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