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Sidney Oak or Bear Oak
Tonbridge, Kent
Recorded by: Not specified
-
Heritage Tree
-
Trees of National Special Interest (TNSI)

- Species:
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
- Form:
- Stump
- Standing or fallen:
- Fragmented
- Living status:
- Dead
- Girth:
- 9.42m at a height of 1.50m
- Veteran status:
- Ancient tree
- County:
- Kent
- Country:
- England
- Grid reference:
- TQ5280544764
- Public accessibility:
- Public - partial access (e.g. next to footpath or road)
- Surroundings:
- Parkland
-
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Sidney Oak or Bear Oak
Tonbridge, Kent
Recorded by: Not specified
- Species:
- Pedunculate oak
- Form:
- Stump
- Standing or fallen:
- Fragmented
- Living status:
- Dead
- Girth:
- 9.42m at a height of 1.50m
- Condition:
- Hollowing trunk
- Veteran status:
- Ancient tree
- Tree number:
- 6357
- Local or historic name:
- Sidney Oak or Bear Oak
- County:
- Kent
- Country:
- England
- Grid reference:
- TQ5280544764
- Public accessibility:
- Public - partial access (e.g. next to footpath or road)
- Surroundings:
- Parkland
- Ancient tree site:
- Penshurst
- Woodland Trust wood:
- No
- Epiphytes:
- Lichen, Moss
- Fungi:
- Evidence of
- Invertebrates:
- --
- Bats:
- --
- Recorded by:
- Not specified
- Recording organisation:
- --
- Last visited:
- 17/10/2023
- First recorded:
- 04/07/2007
This ancient Oak tree is located to the north of Penshurst Place on Penshurst Estate, and is called the Sydney Oak. Penshurst Place and Gardens is the Ancestral home of the Sydney family.King Edward vi, son of Henry viii, granted the estate to Sir William Sydney for loyal service in 1552. The estate was previously owned by Edward Stafford, the third Duke of Buckingham, whom Henry had beheaded for treason in 1521. The estate was then forfeit to the Crown as was customary. Folklore has it that when Henry was courting Anne Boleyn and stayed at Penshurst, They spent time under the Sydney Oak, which was even at that time, an ancient tree. It is thought to be 1000 years old.
There is an even larger oak on the estate, at 11.17 m girth on 8 December 2014, which should have a better claim for 1000 years, although this remains guess work. It is still alive, but hidden in Rookery Wood at TQ52794476