THE countryside around Wellington Monument is stunning. The meadowland, to the views, to the woodlands are precious and looked after by dedicated staff and volunteers from so many organisations and charities.

I asked the National Trust ranger for the Wellington Monument, Phil Bruss, how he felt about planting an oak sapling to replace the dead oak along the avenue.

He responded with these beautiful words: “There is an old adage about the oak – that it takes 300 years to grow, 300 years to live and 300 years to die. The way a tree is managed can affect this considerably and lurking in the shivelight along the avenue approaching Wellington Monument is the slowly decomposing trunk of an old oak pollard.

“As a youngster, the tree likely grew up without the surrounding woodland, spreading its limbs wide in the open countryside, alongside those workmen who constructed the banks and laid the beech hedges along the avenue. As it grew, the tree would have watched the planners, the masons and many others inspect the site of the monument. It would have seen each design and each amendment built, becoming gradually hemmed in as the beech banks ceased to be managed. “Finally, around 15 years ago, the oak died, its branches removed to make it safe, allowing light to the floor of the woodland once again. This light is now being used to bring life to a new oak, planted from local stock, which will see the restoration of the monument to its former glory.”

Look out for the young tree next time you are there. It is amazing to think our young people will watch it grow and so will many future generations.

As always, if you would like to contact me do so at [email protected] or phone me on 07779 454246. I look forward to hearing from you!Emma Jones

National Trust community engagement and fundraising officer (Wellington Monument)