Oak trees in the landscape around Great Gidding, Cambridgeshire, UK

For this feature we look at a living species that can be found in the hedgerow, wood or standing alone. It’s a fair assumption that most of these examples will have been planted rather than self sown. So this fits reasonably well into our 'manscape' theme, probably under the 'unobserved' banner as we probably look straight through them.

The oak tree has become the dominant tree in our local landscape, dominant is perhaps to strong a word for this tree as there are few examples that match the girth and splendour that the elm trees exerted over the countryside. Any trip around Abbots Ripton reveals what’s missing from our own patch. The elm was everywhere, sadly the onset of Dutch Elm Disease rapidly changed the view. So it’s the Oak that stands proud. Of course there are examples of all species of native trees around but the fact that any journey from Great Gidding will take you past one of these trees featured.

Oak at Oak Tree Corner

Oak Tree Corner

The first tree is our very own village oak, at suitably titled 'Oak Tree Corner'.

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Oak between Thurning and Clopton

Between Thurning and Clopton

Our next oak can be seen as you travel between Thurning and Clopton, a hedge row tree suggesting that it was planted as a sapling.

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Oak tree just out of Luddington

Just out of Luddington

The next oak tree can be found on the way to Thurning just out of Luddington. This is quite a tall tree probably the influence of the uncut hedge forcing it to compete for light and root space.

Its worth pointing out how ivy can overcome any of these trees. Some would argue that this provides a unique living environment for all sorts of insect and bird life.

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Oak tree on the way to Hemington

On the way to Hemington

The fourth oak stands by itself at the end of a hedgerow on the way to Hemington.

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Oak tree just out of Hemington

Just out of Hemington

The next oak is a real gem, big girth, spreading canopy and growing in a position that you can’t fail to be impressed by it.

Just out of Hemington towards Polebrook, this tree spreads right across the road.

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Oak tree between Winwick and Hamerton

Between Winwick and Hamerton

Travelling between Winwick and Hamerton there are several oak trees growing in the hedge rows. This particular one is the most dominant. It has undergone some careful branch surgery and looks a splendid site from all directions.

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Kenny's Oak

Kenny's Oak

'Kenny's Oak' as named on the Ordnance Survey map. A tree with history? I don’t know who Kenny was, but a tree standing alone by a quiet road near to the top of a hill and the imagination starts to run wild. (If there is any recorded history of Kenny's Oak then we would be pleased to here about it).

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Oak tree at Morbourne Hill

Morbourne Hill

Another lonely spot, an oak tree growing near the abandoned village at the bottom of Morbourne Hill. If the telecom masts didn’t dominate the landscape so much then the oak trees would get a look in.

There are quite a lot of oak's along side and near to the Bullock Road in this area. Look out for them.

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Oak tree just up the road from Moonshine Gap

Moonshine Gap

Our last oak tree is just up the road from Moonshine Gap just past the turn to Caldecote. This one is showing signs of stress either through disease or drought, and it shows what we will lose if we don’t look after our big trees.

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