Ancient Oak

One of the appeals of beating on local shoots is the access to areas of our landscape that are otherwise off limits to the general public. I've been frequenting the shoots on this estate for many more years than I've had dogs and my presence was, arguably, my qualification for obtaining a cottage on the estate.

The 17th century diarist and landscape gardener, John Evelyn, lived in nearby Wotton. It was he who laid the gardens of Albury park for his friend, Henry Howard, the 6th Earl of Norfolk. In a 20 year period from 1655 the entire landscape of the estate was refined and planted out. This is one of the many magnificent oak trees that survive from that that time. One has to assume that the trees that were planted were not mere seedlings as they would have to have given an almost immediate effect, but even if they were, this tree has long since computed it's 350th birthday.

As a shooting estate and for the lands heritage, in it's lifetime I very much doubt that there has been a year in which a shooter hasn't been positioned under these boughs. Now owned by the Duke of Northumberland, the estate is self funded and as much care is taken about the aspect of the landscape as was taken when it was first laid. There are many old trees, not only oaks, that grow here and new ones are planted regularly that will take the place of these when their time is done. I feel very privileged every time I walk down the spectacular rides where they grow. Whether you approve or not of field sports, the income generated from the shoots is one of the reasons these trees still stand so majestically. I often wonder how the first planting looked like and what future generations will see. I'm sure John Evelyn would approve if he could see it today.

There is one way every man or woman can leave a mark on the landscape for the future. Plant a tree!