The Allerton Oak in Liverpool, the legendary tree that’s thought to be more than 1,000 years old and was once climbed by John Lennon, was recently crowned as England’s tree of the year and is currently valued at £500,000($642,000).
The awarding was the result of the Woodland Trust’s annual contest.
The tree is located in Calderstones Park where a medieval court was held for a time. Legend says that during medieval times, the ‘Hundred Court’ would meet under the tree because they lacked a courthouse.
Watch the video of this legendary tree below.
[rumble video_id=v5qaqj domain_id=u7nb2]
Video credit: Rumble
William the Conqueror’s Domesday book of 1086 mentions Allerton and experts suggest that the Sessile oak already existed back then though others say that it’s more likely to be between 500 to 600 years old.
John Lennon, who spent his childhood years in nearby Woolton, was said to have climbed the tree when he was young.
The lead gardener at Calderstones Park, 64-year-old Jon Warren, has been working there since he was 16.
He said: “I’ve been here a long time, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the lifespan of the tree.
“When I first started working here, there were still some of the gardeners that had been here at the time of the Second World War and they told me during the war, they sent leaves from the tree to the Liverpool men fighting on the front line.
“I’m not much of a believer in some of the legends behind the tree and the other myths, but that is the most heartwarming true story I know about it.
“As a boy, John Lennon lived close by and also played in the park, so he would have climbed it without a doubt.
“The tree is Liverpool’s oldest citizen and it’s without a doubt my favorite tree in the park.
“It’s fantastic that it has won this accolade because these days I think many people don’t know it exists so it will be lovely to see more people discover it.”
Based on conservative estimates, the oak has been valued at more than half-a-million pounds. The tree also serves as a wildlife sanctuary with tawny owls, spotted doves, hairstreak butterflies, and woodpeckers sheltering under the tree’s wide canopy.
Adam Cormack, the head of campaigns at The Woodland Trust, said: “The Allerton Oak is a spectacular example of a city tree.
“It has stood in Calderstones Park for centuries and has an intriguing story.
“Trees are an important part of the urban landscape helping to make our towns and cities better places to live.
“We are keen to increase understanding of their value and promote their protection.”
The huge crack on one side of the tree was supposedly caused in 1864 when the Lotty Sleigh exploded. The ship had been carrying 11 tons of gunpowder and the resulting shock wave shattered thousands of windows throughout Liverpool and was heard more than 30 miles away.
Today, the tree is fenced off and metal poles, installed in the 1990’s, support its heavy boughs. Of the 11,000 votes that were cast, 34 percent went to the Allerton Oak, beating other strong contenders like Colchester Castle’s Sycamore and the Isle of Wight’s Dragon Tree.
Replaced!