MEAVY’S famous oak tree has been included in the Woodland Trust’s National Tree of the Year competition and is now on the shortlist of the top ten most important English trees — to be voted on by the public.

It is believed Meavy’s ancient oak has stood on the village green outside the Royal Oak Inn for almost 1,000 years. According to records, the tree was said to be old in the days of Queen Elizabeth I and is thought to have been standing tall in the reign of King John in 1200AD.

A common oak, Quercus Robur, the tree was important enough to be mentioned in author John Loudon’s Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum Volume 3 in 1838. 

Various stories tell of the tree being an ancient ‘dancing tree’ which was danced upon and around. Tradition also said that a former publican of The Royal Oak Inn served dinner to nine guests inside the tree’s hollow interior.

National Tree of the Year is a competition to find the most beautiful, interesting and special trees in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A member of the public submitted a nomination for the Meavy oak to be included and landowner Burrator Parish Council has given permission for the Woodland Trust to arrange a professional photographer to conduct a photo shoot of the oak.

Every shortlisted tree will be featured on the Woodland Trust’s website, along with each tree’s story, some explanation of their history and what it is that makes them special. Following a voting period, which started on Monday (September 11) and will run until October 8, the tree which receives the most votes is crowned Tree of the Year for their nation.

The trust is offering up to £1,000 in tree care awards to the most successful trees, designed to help them live a prosperous and healthy life. 

A spokesman for the trust said: ‘These awards can be used for arboricultural surveys or other maintenance, interpretation or even to support a community event in celebration of the tree. This year we will also be selecting one of the four national winners to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest.’

And finally — did King Charles ever hide in Meavy’s oak tree as some storytellers suggest?

To cast your vote, visit www.woodland trust.org.uk