Oak at the Gate of the Dead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oak at the Gate of the Dead |
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The tree in April 2013
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| Native name | Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help) |
| Species | English oak (Quercus robur) |
| Location | Ceiriog Valley, near Chirk, Wales |
| Coordinates | 52°55′53.23″N 3°5′43.24″W / 52.9314528°N 3.0953444°W |
| Date seeded | circa 800-1000 AD |
| Website | Facebook page |
The Oak at the Gate of the Dead is a very old and famous tree in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. Its Welsh name is "Derwen Adwy'r Meirwon." This special tree is also sometimes called the Crogen Oak. It's thought to be more than 1,000 years old! This means it was standing long before many modern countries even existed. The tree is close to Offa's Dyke, an ancient border built around 800 AD. It's also near where a big battle happened in 1165, which is why it has its unique name.
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The Ancient Oak Tree
This amazing oak is a type called an English oak. It's known as a "veteran tree" because it's so incredibly old. Imagine all the history this tree has seen! It stands proudly in the beautiful Ceiriog Valley.
Where to Find It
The Oak at the Gate of the Dead is located in modern Wrexham, Wales. You can find it along the Offa's Dyke Path. This path runs next to Offa's Dyke, which is an old earthwork. An earthwork is a large bank of earth built a long time ago. This one was created around the 8th century. It marked the border between an old English kingdom called Mercia and the Welsh Kingdoms. The tree is about 300 meters from Chirk Castle. It's also right by a public road, the B4500.
A Tree with a Story
Experts believe this oak tree is over 1,000 years old. This means it might have been growing during the time of King Ecgberht of Wessex (802–839). If this age is correct, the tree was already standing in 1165. That year, a big fight called the Battle of Crogen happened right nearby. Because of this, some people say the oak is the "only living witness to this battle."
The Battle of Crogen Connection
In 1165, a Welsh army led by Owain Gwynedd fought against the English king Henry II. The Welsh army won and made King Henry II retreat. People say that the soldiers who died in this battle were buried in the ditch of the nearby dyke. In the 1800s, this spot was known as Adwy'r Beddau. This means "the pass, or gap, of the graves." Some graves were even still visible there in 1697. Because of this history, the tree has become a symbol of the Battle of Crogen. In 2009, a special plaque was put up to honor this link.
A Famous Local Landmark
The Oak at the Gate of the Dead is a very important and loved landmark in its area. It was one of the first trees in the world to have its own Facebook page! Since 2007, when it was identified by Rob McBride of the Woodland Trust, it has been featured in many TV and radio shows. These include programs like Countryfile, BBC Midlands news, BBC Wales TV, BBC Radio Wales, and BBC Radio Shropshire. Its story was also told in a film shown at the Wrexham Histories Festival in 2011. In 2014, the Woodland Trust entered the tree into the European Tree of the Year awards. It was the first time a tree from Wales had been nominated for this award.
In February 2010, during very cold weather, the tree split into two parts. After this, the Wrexham County Borough Council gave it a special protection called a tree preservation order. This order helps to make sure the tree is looked after and protected for the future.
