Knightwood Oak

The Knightwood Oak is a pedunculate oak and the largest, and perhaps most famous, oak tree in the New Forest in southern England. It is also known as the "Queen of the Forest". It is over 500 years old and has a girth of convert|7.38|m|ft|lk=on [ cite web|url=http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/tree.htm?tree=DB27393D-1DB1-4456-983E-FF60BC135A67 |title=Ancient Tree Hunt |accessdate=2007-10-31 |publisher=Woodland Trust] . The tree is still growing. It was pollarded when about 200 years old and thought to have been last pollarded about 150 years ago [ cite web|url=http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfnews/news04/knightwood.htm |title=Ancient Tree Forum |accessdate=2007-10-31 |publisher=Woodland Trust] .

The tree is located about convert|2.4|mi|km|lk=on WSW of Lyndhurst and just north of the A35 road at gbmapping|SU265065. There is a carpark nearby and a gravel path, suitable for wheelchairs, leads to and around the tree. An interpretative panel explains the tree's history. A fence encircles the tree to protect its roots from soil compaction due to foot traffic. The tree has been popular with visitors for a long time and at the height of its fame, in Victorian times, people would come from far and wide to see it. It is even reputed to have been visited by Henry VIII during a hunting expedition in the forest.

In February 2006 the Forestry Commission harvested twigs from the tree to produce new ‘Knightwood’ oaks with identical genes. Some will be planted near the original tree, while others will go to New Park, near Brockenhurst [ cite web|url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebPressReleases/AAEE5411243A352680257109005D68D7 |title=Forestry Commission - News |accessdate=2007-10-31] .

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