Queen Elizabeth Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Elizabeth Oak |
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Queen Elizabeth Oak in September 2008
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| Species | Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) |
| Location | Cowdray Park near Lodsworth, West Sussex, England |
| Coordinates | 50°59′46″N 0°42′02″W / 50.99613°N 0.70066°W |
| Girth | 12.5–12.8 metres (41–42 ft) |
| Date seeded | Between 1000–1200 AD |
| Custodian | Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray |
| Website | Woodland Trust record |
The Queen Elizabeth Oak is a huge oak tree found in Cowdray Park near Lodsworth, West Sussex, England. This amazing tree is located inside the beautiful South Downs National Park. It's a special type of oak called a sessile oak.
This ancient tree is about 800 to 1,000 years old! That means it started growing way back in the 11th or 12th century. Imagine all the history it has seen!
In 2002, the Queen Elizabeth Oak was named one of the fifty Great British Trees. This honor recognizes its important place in the country's natural heritage. The Woodland Trust says it's the third largest sessile oak in the whole United Kingdom. Only the Pontfadog Oak in Wales and the Marton Oak in Cheshire were bigger, but the Marton Oak is now broken into pieces.
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The Queen's Legend
This famous tree is named after Queen Elizabeth I. There's a cool story about her and the tree.
Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Trip
Legend says that Queen Elizabeth I once visited Cowdray Park. She was on a hunting trip. She stood near this very oak tree with her bow and arrow ready.
She was waiting for a deer, called a stag, to be brought close enough for her to shoot. However, the story goes that she wasn't successful that day. She didn't manage to shoot the stag.
Tree Facts
The Queen Elizabeth Oak is truly massive. Its trunk measures about 12.5 to 12.8 meters around. That's like wrapping a measuring tape around it more than 12 times!
An Ancient Survivor
Being 800 to 1,000 years old makes it one of the oldest trees in England. It has survived many centuries. It has seen countless seasons and historical events.
A Great British Tree
In June 2002, the Queen Elizabeth Oak received a special award. The Tree Council officially recognized it as one of the fifty Great British Trees. This award celebrates trees that are important to the nation's history and nature.
