Pwllpriddog Oak facts for kids
The Pwllpriddog Oak is a very old and special tree in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It's also known as the Rhandirmwyn Oak. This amazing tree is between 600 and 700 years old! Imagine all the things it has seen. Recently, it has been a cozy home for ducks and even a cool place for music concerts. In 2018, people voted for it, and it won the title of Welsh Tree of the Year.
Discovering the Pwllpriddog Oak
The Pwllpriddog Oak has a Welsh name, Derwen Pwllpriddog. Some people also call it the Rhandirmwyn Oak. You can find this giant tree in a farm hedgerow. It's located near a country lane outside of Rhandirmwyn in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
This tree is truly huge! Its trunk measures about 8.4 meters (27.5 feet) around. That's like wrapping eight or nine kids around it to reach all the way! The inside of the tree is completely hollow.
There's a pub in Rhandirmwyn called the "Royal Oak." This name might be linked to a local story. The legend says the tree once hid a king inside its hollow trunk. Farmers have used the hollow space in the past as a pig sty (a place for pigs). Today, the farmer uses its big branches as a roost and nesting spot for ducks.
The Pwllpriddog Oak is also a unique music venue. Bands and choirs have performed inside the tree! It's believed to be the only tree in Wales where live music has been played inside it.
The Pwllpriddog Oak: Tree of the Year
The Pwllpriddog Oak first entered a special competition in 2014. This was the Woodland Trust's Welsh Tree of the Year contest. It was entered under the name Rhandirmwyn Oak. It came in third place that year, getting 20% of the public votes. The winner in 2014 was the Lonely Tree in Llanfyllin.
The oak tree was entered into the competition again in 2018. This time, it won! As the winner, it received a £1000 grant. This money came from the People's Postcode Lottery and was used for the tree's care.
After winning the Welsh title, the Pwllpriddog Oak went on to another vote. In October 2018, a public vote was held to choose the overall British Tree of the Year. This vote was done with the BBC show The One Show. Four trees, including the Pwllpriddog Oak, were the finalists from different parts of the UK. The winner for 2018 was England's Nellie's Tree.
