Saed News: Measures taken to protect an ancient oak tree have attracted public attention.
According to SAEDNEWS, citing Hamshahri Online, the “Queen Oak” tree, located beside a road in the Moyles Court area near Ringwood in Hampshire, is considered one of the largest oak trees in the New Forest. Its estimated age is around 650 to 700 years.
In 2023, the local council of Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley decided to purchase protective barriers known as “dragon teeth” after a nearby tree called the “King Oak” dried out. The goal was to prevent vehicles from parking on the tree’s roots.
These barriers, made of short wooden posts installed along the roadside, have now been placed in the area. In addition, support cables have been installed for the branches of the Queen Oak, and surrounding trees have been pruned to improve conditions for its preservation.
The Tree Council, which is leading the project, stated that this initiative could serve as an example of cooperative and jointly funded efforts to protect valuable trees.
John Stokes, director of the charity, said:
“Such collective action is exactly what is needed to protect these remarkable trees. These measures are not necessarily expensive or time-consuming, and sometimes simple actions can have very significant results.”
The remains of the King Oak, a tree of similar age, stand on the opposite side of the road. It was declared dead in 2023.
According to the Tree Council, heavy vehicle traffic and frequent visitor presence had caused soil compaction around its roots, reducing the flow of water, nutrients, and oxygen, which accelerated the tree’s decline.
In 2023, the local council estimated that stabilizing the Queen Oak would cost between £2,000 and £2,500, while installing the “dragon teeth” barriers would cost around £700.
In 2024, the project faced delays due to awaiting approval from the government advisory body Natural England.
The charity noted that the project has been implemented through cooperation between the local council, the community, landowners, the New Forest National Park Authority, as well as support from Savills and the Kairos Philanthropy Foundation.
