How impressive are these old oaks?

An historian ~ 1.88 metres gives the scale of a large oak in Thundersley

D Hurrell

A magnificent oak in Thundersley

D Hurrell

Mighty oak and historian

D Hurrell

Some of the oaks in Thundersley hedgerows are splendid ‘veterans’ and surely among the oldest trees in our Borough.   Three superb oak trees are pictured above, with a suitable local historian to give the scale.

The largest tree, in terms of sheer mass, is probably the huge one in the centre picture, though perhaps it might possibly be two trees that have grafted together when young.

Another tree (a clear and obvious ‘standard’) measured, at shoulder height, over 12ft (3.66 metres + ) in circumference (or over two  ‘hugs’), implying an age of maybe 600 years. 

As we are currently able to complete the Castle Point Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) survey, why not ask whether we are protecting all such trees in Castle Point.  They are magnificent centres for biodiversity and therefore key indicators of ecological health, perhaps  Tree Preservation Orders would be useful?

We can complete the BNG survey until 5th February 2024,  and why not?