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The King's Spy Oak
Reading, Reading
Recorded by: Not specified
-
Trees of National Special Interest (TNSI)
- Species:
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
- Form:
- Pollard form (natural)
- Standing or fallen:
- Standing
- Living status:
- Alive
- Girth:
- 8.03m at a height of 1.00m
- Veteran status:
- Ancient tree
- County:
- Reading
- Country:
- England
- Grid reference:
- SU72517667
- Public accessibility:
- Private - visible from public access (permission not required to view)
- Surroundings:
- Domestic garden
-
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The King's Spy Oak
Reading, Reading
Recorded by: Not specified
- Species:
- Pedunculate oak
- Form:
- Pollard form (natural)
- Standing or fallen:
- Standing
- Living status:
- Alive
- Girth:
- 8.03m at a height of 1.00m
- Condition:
- Hollowing branches, Decaying wood in the crown
- Veteran status:
- Ancient tree
- Tree number:
- 28954
- Local or historic name:
- The King's Spy Oak
- County:
- Reading
- Country:
- England
- Grid reference:
- SU72517667
- Public accessibility:
- Private - visible from public access (permission not required to view)
- Surroundings:
- Domestic garden
- Ancient tree site:
- --
- Woodland Trust wood:
- No
- Epiphytes:
- --
- Fungi:
- Unsure of species
- Invertebrates:
- --
- Bats:
- --
- Recorded by:
- Not specified
- Recording organisation:
- --
- Last visited:
- 13/07/2024
- First recorded:
- 22/04/2009
Tree's owner writes about this tree: The story as told to me was that during the Civil War [in April 1643] parliamentary forces were camped close by when it was learned that the King's army was marching from Oxford. An ambush was organised at nearby Balmore Park and men were sent to climb my oak to spy out for the Kings army, with good effect as I understand they where slaughtered."
26/4/23 - Under threat from planning application to build a single house where it stands. Many objection. Hopefully Reading Borough Council will not grant it and ensure protection, in so far as is possible in private ownership.
Planning reference number. http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/detail.asp?AltRef=221909&submit1=Submit&ApplicationNumber=221909&AddressPrefix=&Postcode=
The Planning application which included the felling of the King's Spy Oak was withdrawn by the applicant (19 May 2023).