We are pleased to announce that Oxford-based building company SYMM are our newest partners in the OneOak project.
The company was founded in 1815; some 35 years before the OneOak tree was planted at Blenheim Estate. SYMM have since worked with many of our most pre-eminent architects on the design and construction of many of Oxford’s stunning 19th and 20th Century buildings.
Aidan Mortimer, CEO, Symm commented: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting project to promote sustainable forestry and very much look forward to using some of the oak when repairing or renovating a local building, or even incorporating it into something new. It has become increasingly important to assess and minimise our impact on the environment in all things we do and in reaching out, especially to so many young people, OneOak will help educate future generations.
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Phil Koomen and James Binning debating the quality of the OneOak tree
Wood gurus James Binning from Deep in Wood sawmill and furniture designer Phil Koomen visited the OneOak tree this week. We asked for their expert opinion as to the possible amount of usable timber we may be able to harvest from the tree. We hope to be able to make many wooden products from the OneOak’s timber and these will need good quality wood – free of knots and bends. Those parts of the tree with such ‘defects’ will be used for other things such as wood for creating heat or energy, or for smaller craft items.
James and Phil thought that it should be possible to cut some good quality timber from the OneOak tree but it may contain less than its large size suggests. There is a heavily-branched section midway up the main stem that may prove difficult to cut to produce the best quality timber.
At the end of the day, foresters only know the quality and quantity of usable timber from a tree when it is felled – so we will have to wait and see!
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We are delighted that a very talented artist will be working on the OneOak project.
Rebecca Hind captures the OneOak in autumn colours with watercolours, October 2009
Rebecca Hind is an Oxfordshire-based artist who works predominently with paint. She has exhibited widely both in Britian and abroad.
“Oak trees have long held a significant place in our culture, one that goes way beyond ornament or function. Once deemed sacred and always valued for their strength and durability they were also thought to attract lightning. On first encountering the OneOak I was struck by its grandeur, standing there bathed in the light that has led it from seed to maturity. As a landscape painter I follow light and relish the chance to engage with the elements as they reveal different aspects of the natural world. Shifting seasons, hours and weather offer a wealth of fascination for me, and so the chance to take part in the One Oak project is a privilege and a delight. My intention is to celebrate thetree as it holds its current form and place in the world, sheds its final foliage, then becomes transformed by human hand. I hope that the paintings I make will be as seeds continuing this tree’s life.” Rebecca Hind, October 2009.
Visit Rebecca Hind’s website.
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Collecting seeds (acorns) from the OneOak tree has been a long-standing plan. Unfortunately the tree had other ideas and has produced very few acorns this year.
Growing a new generation of oak seedlings is an important part of the project as it will actively demonstrate the cycle of life and the sustainablility of growing trees. Nicholson Nurseries have kindly agreed to help the school children who collect acorns to grow them to produce oak seedlings. We plan to plant a new generation of ‘OneOaks’ in autumn 2010.
Problem acorns: small, rotten or infected with Knopper Galls
Oak trees do not produce significant crops of acorns every year. Usually, heavy crops of acorns or ‘mast years’ come once every 4-7 years. It just so happened that 2009 was not a mast year. We have looked long and hard for acorns from our OneOak tree but have found only small and half-formed acorns that would never germinate.
We decided to look elsewhere on the Blenheim Estate so that we could at least collect seeds from the cousins of our OneOak tree. Luckily, other oak woodland areas seem to have produced some acorns although the crop is still very light. Many of the acorns are small or have been infected by the Gall wasp Andricus quercuscalicis that produces the alien-looking Knopper Gall.
Andricus quercuscalicis
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One hundred days from today the OneOak tree will be felled. This seemed a good opportunity to provide a general update on project progress.
The school visits have been going well and so far, all the children have enjoyed visiting the tree and learnt a lot about woodlands and trees. More posts from the schools will soon appear in the OneOak blog.
Some other news relating to people is that we are delighted to be working with Pathway Workshop. The team at Pathway support people with a wide range of disabilities in working to produce well-designed and expertly made wooden items. Not only do the team turn waste wood into beautiful and useful items, they help the employment prospects of their trainees. We are delighted to be working with Pathway.
The tree felling will take place in front of all our partners and project friends. Three hundred children from our six primary schools will come to watch, as will many of the future users of the tree’s wood. Planning for the event is going well. It is quite a challenge making sure that 400 guests will be able to see the tree when it is felled – and remain safe! There are also many logistical matters to arrange so that our guests will feel welcome and entertained.
We are making good progress with the ‘woodchain’ part of the project – finding partners who will take wood from the tree to make various products. We will soon be announcing an exciting project partnership with a high profile architectural firm.
We are delighted to have been invited to two major Oxfordshire events in 2010. This means that we will be able to take our project to an even wider audience.
Finally, two wonderful local artists have decided to cover the project – watch this space for more news!
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Equipment to help explore the tree with different senses
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Hunting for woodland wildlife under the OneOak tree
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Working as a forestry scientist
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Exploring the OneOak tree
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Nature guides to help explore woodland wildife
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Where to measure the tree’s stem diameter (130cm)
Several schools have now been out to meet the OneOak and all have had a fantastic time. We have been very lucky with the weather, even this week when it was supposed be pretty wet. Everybody has had a lovely time walking out to the tree and trying to find conkers on the way. Once they have reached the tree the children have all had a chance to use their senses, become scientists and discover the wildlife and nature around the tree. Then of course they have had time to explore around the tree after their outdoor picnic. So far Bladon, Willowcroft and Wood Farm Primary Schools have all been out and I am really looking forward to meeting Woodstock and Stonesfield schools over the next few weeks to have some more fun.
Here are some comments from the children who came to visit from Wood Farm yesterday:
“I really enjoyed the oak tree when I look up to the top it makes me very dizzy. The favourite activity was where you have to look under your legs.’’ – Courtney
“I really enjoyed seeing the oak tree. My favourite activity was getting insects. I will never forget the oak tree.’’- Douglas
“My favourite activity was measuring the tree. I will never forget the walk’’- Saiful
“I really enjoyed the measuring. My favourite activity was exploring the trees! I will never forget when we were saying goodbye.’’- Nimrah
Mhairi MacGillivray-Edwards
Forest School Leader, Oxfordshire Forest Schools Service
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