Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

A fine tree native to North America, widespread in central and eastern USA and in Canada from the Great Lakes to Nova Scotia.
It is the State Tree of New Jersey and the Provincial Tree of Prince Edward Island.
It is famous for its red leaves in Autumn. It would often be redder than in this photo but we have not had a frost or anything near one.

Finding the tree was a big surprise but finding the place in which it, and a number of others, was growing was an even greater one. Since we retired to Arnside 23 years ago we have been to Kendal for shopping and entertainment over 400 times. How can it be that it has taken us so long to find this lovely area of parkland just 2 minutes walk off the main street? A mystery.