Policies
Trees are especially important to our Celtic Culture (see Tree Guardianship) this is because they provide us with important connections to our past lifestyles and our natural environments. We can distinguish within trees ancient wisdoms and it is indeed the most singular life force that can offer us a tangible link with old custom and traditions. It is true that when we stop to think - we cannot but help admire the fact that our ancient trees have witnessed so many of the changes that have occurred in our landscapes. It would certainly provide us with much enlightenment should the knowledge of our oldest species become known and understood. Fortunately for the Celt much of our traditional values and wisdom have been saved - caught up in old narrative and legend, it is now the time to begin the unravelling of these mysteries and reinstate some of our true values. These actions will inspire the movement towards sustainable development.
THE CLACHAN OAK ,
This ancient sessile oak stands in the village of Balfron in Stirlingshire and was though to be 334 years of age in 1867. In the past, petty criminals were chained to the two iron bonds that encirle the trunk and subjected to ridicule by the public.
| Just for your information . . . a short intro into our historical linkages with the Oak | ||
 |
Oak trees have a long life span some reaching 300-400 years of age, they are associated and named after historical events and well know local landmarks. For example there are boundary oaks, gospel oaks, shire oaks, meeting place oaks where weddings take place , oaks have provided look out posts and often unfortunatly provided for gallows and giblets. Old hollow trees were used for housing animals, as prisons, hiding places and for sestivites such as dancing tres. In their names and and in their stories and ledgends the oak can provide points in history and culture. The old Celtic culture of tree reverence has been reinvented over and over again- ther are 12 Queen Elizabeth Oaks, 14 Queen Oaks and Queen Elizabeth 1 was sitting under the Queen Elizabeth's Oak in Hertfordshire when she was brought news of Mary Tudor's death. She also kissed the Earl of Leicester under the kiss tree nearby. Henry V111 and Ane Boleyn danced together under the Queen Elizabet's Oak in Greenwich Park. Later he waited beneath the Fairmead Oak in Epping Forest to hear the guns of the Tower of London announce her execution. Henry V1 hid in the Henry V1's Oak after the Battle of Muncaster during the Wars of the Roses in 1464, after villages had refused him shelter. Charles 1 escaped from Oxford in the Civil War and hid in the Big Oak in Henley-on-Thames. Charles 11 hid in the famous Boscobel Oak in Shorpshire after the Battle of Wocester, which incidently was replaced when it died in 1706 by a sapling grown from an acorn of the original tree. The Flittern Oak in Devon was also used as a hiding place for Charels 11.
|
|
The Major Oak - Sherwood Forest also known as the Cockpen Tree or the Queens Oak
|
||
Mallochs Oak in Perhshire is named after a grocer who refused to sell food during the famine, hoping that prices would rise. He was hung on the same tree by local people. |
Keeper Oak in Hampshire commemorates Peter Hawkins, a gamekeeper who was accidently shot by the Archbishop Abbot of Canterbury in the 1620s. The Three Kett's Oaks in Norfolk are named after Robert Kett, who led a rebellion against land enclosures and marched on Norwich in 1549. He camped under one of the Oaks on his way to Norwich, and was hung from another in his home village of Wymondham. | |
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forst was the traditional meeting place for Robin Hood and his men, he stored deer carcesses in the Shambles Oak. Maid Marion is buried under the Dunmow Oak on the edge of the forest. (Researched by the Tree Council)
|
|
The Bloody Oak in County Armagh stands on the Bloody Loaning, a lane leading to a ford across the Callen river. Here in 1598 Marshall Bagenal and his English troops were marching to the relief of the English garrison in Portmore. The soldiers were overwhelemd and all were killed in the Battle of the Yellow Ford. |
However the Oak has a very special reverence for the Celt it is represents one of the a key elements of our tradition and culture - this has not been lost because still today in our every day lives we respect the Oak should we get the opportunity to pass one by- we respect the fact that it has helped us to stay in touch with our natural instincts and has supported countless generations of wildlife with a productive habitat and remains one of our most precious natural environmental resources.
|
||
 |
||
