Cork Oak

This cork oak was planted over 250+ years ago as a part of a tree collection for a stately home, Osterley Park by the new owner Sir Francis Childs who took the estate by reprocessing the bankrupted owner. Childs was the head of the bank. Trees are the unsung heroes of the great urban sprawl we call London, they bring beauty to the otherwise ugly streets and fill the parks and gardens with real beauty and become a constant friend. This tree was nominated a 'great tree of London' status and is one of only 60 trees to achieve this status. To achieve this reward the tree needed to be : 1. Publicly accessible and able to see from all sides. 2. Historically significant - relating to events or people or having a story to tell. 3. Location - important landmark 4.Physical character - very large, old, unusual shape