139. Cadzow Oak

Not far from Glasgow a host of ancient oaks quietly thrive in a country park. One hollow seven-hundred-year-old is particularly striking.

Hamilton’s urban sprawl has been halted by the grounds of Chatelherault Country Park, which contains the ancient Cadzow oaks, dozens of trees planted after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Follow the signs to find them: the first tree on the footpath is startling, but the hollow, splayed out individual just beyond is jaw-dropping: it is humbling being in the presence of a 700-year-old tree.

Species details

Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur

Where to find it

Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton ML3 7UE
///riders.guard.gross | 55.758234, -4.019203

Tree Hunting – How I Chose the Trees

Last Tuesday, in the second in my occasional Long Reads series, I announced the exciting news that my new book, Tree Hunting will be published in May.

Long Reads: Tree Hunting

But, while I wanted to signpost you to that article if you haven’t read it already, lots of people have asked how I selected the trees that will appear in the book, and those that have been appearing here on my Substack over the last two years.

I thought it would be worth discussing this in more detail, so I published a post on my website, thestreettree.com about the criteria (such as they are). You can read Tree Hunting – How I Chose the Trees here.

A selection of other very old oaks

129. Crouch Oak

97. The Oak at the Gate of the Dead

66. Meavy Oak

54. Allerton Oak