Herefordshire
Brampton Bryan
The Harley Estate lies on the borders of Herefordshire and Shropshire close to the market towns of Ludlow, Knighton and Leominster. The Estate, set in magnificent and historic border country, encompasses a range of rural based enterprises from farming, forestry and film location, to sporting and other special events.
It is listed in Aljos Farjon's book "Ancient Oaks in the English Landscape" as one of the 23 most important sites for ancient oaks in England, containing 35 trees over 6m in girth. Our founder Benedict added two more to the list during his many visits to this beautiful estate, which he first explored in 2015.
Many of our largest available oaklings are ten-year-old Brampton Bryan specimens, between 4m and 5m tall, the acorns having been sourced from around a dozen fine trees.
https://www.harleyestate.co.uk/
The Sentinel
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age in 2025: 927 years
Form: Natural Pollard - a truly sturdy old Being this one, standing watch over miles of Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Girth at 1.5m: 9.28m (measured in 2019)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1098
Reigning Monarch at the time: William II
Story: one of a few very large 333old oaks at Brampton Bryan, Storm Arwen in late November 2021 blew the top out of the tree, much to the concern of the Harleys. However, the trunk remained totally in tact and a new lower 'canopy' is now growing with much vigour, and it is expected that Arwen has most likely prolonged the life of the tree.
Sizes available (get in touch for prices):
75-175cm, 7L (4 available)
125-200cm, 12L (2 + 2 available)
150-250cm, 15L (several available)
200-275cm, 20L:(several available)
300-400cm, 70L (2 available)
300-400cm, 90L (4 + 2 available)
400-450cm, 130L (1 available)
Oakling ages: up to 10 years old (seed gathered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020, 2025).
ID codes: BP 1556, 1579, 1590, 1894.
Baobab Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age: 830 years (but probably younger on account of the considerable burring)
Form: Pollard
Girth at 1.5m: 8.95m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1192
Reigning Monarch at the time: Richard the Lionheart
Story: the first time Benedict approached this tree, he called it 'grumpy oak' as it felt like there was a forcefield around it and it did NOT want anyone nearby. After much humbling and deepening into a more reverent and respectful attitude, it eventually softened. Always give thanks to the tree and ask permission first!
Sizes available (get in touch for prices):
125-175cm, 7L (only 2 available)
150-250cm, 15L (only 3 available)
300-400cm, 90L (4 available)
Oakling ages: up to 10 years old (seed gathered in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020).
ID codes: BP 1558, 1593.
Triple Trunk Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 601 years
Form: Pollard
Girth at 1.5m: 7.32m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1192
Reigning Monarch at the time: Henry VI
Story: this is one of Benedict's 'Top Three' favourite oaks. An absolute gem!
Sizes available (get in touch for prices):
150-250cm, 12L (only 1 available)
300-400cm, 90L (only 1 available)
Oakling ages: 10 years old (seed from 2015).
ID codes: BP 1559.
Perching Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 282 years
Form: Pollard
Girth at 1.5m: 4.78m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1743
Reigning Monarch at the time: George II
Story: commanding one of the finest views in Herefordshire, this lovely veteran oak delights in a vista for miles and miles to the northeast across Herefordshire and Shropshire. We have noticed that the oaklings are particularly vigorous too.
Sizes available (get in touch for prices):
125-200cm, 12 Litre pots (2 available)
200-275cm, 20L:(1 available)
225-300cm, 30L:(1 available)
300-400cm, 70L (10 available)
300-400cm, 90L (16 available)
400-450cm, 130L (1 available)
Oakling ages: 10 years old (seed from 2015).
ID codes: BP 1557.
Pineside Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 459 years
Form: Maiden.
Girth at 1.5m: 6.51m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1566
Reigning Monarch at the time: Elizabeth I
Story: the very first sessile oak that we gathered acorns from, this fine specimen sits near a pine tree copse, but has its own little corner of a field where it sits solidly, patiently and by all accounts very happily.
Sizes available (get in touch for prices):
300-400cm, 70L (4 available)
300-400cm, 90L (6 available)
Oakling ages: 10 years old (seed from 2015).
ID codes: BP 1555.
Gwynt Cymru (Wind of Wales)
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 530 years
Form: 'windswept' Maiden
Girth at 1.5m: 6.97m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1495
Reigning Monarch at the time: Henry VII
Story: this very strong tree bears the brunt of the wind hurtling across the Welsh border less than a mile to the west.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
150-250cm, 15 Litre pots (1 available)
300-400cm, 70L (2 available)
300-400cm, 90L (1 available)
400-500cm, 130L (1 available)
Oakling ages: 9 & 10 years old (seed from 2015 & 2016).
ID codes: BP 1560, 1577.
Collapsed Giant
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 833 years
Form: fallen Pollard (but still alive)
Girth at 1.5m: 9m (estimated in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1189
Reigning Monarch at the time: Richard the Lionheart
Story: this huge old oak blew down around the year 2014, and the crack and crunch was so loud it was heard by the Harleys at home over a mile away in the house - no doubt a moment of sadness, and yet this redoubtable tree continues on. Her huge trunk (whose girth we can only estimate approximately) must have been above 9m, and one portion of it still rooted and continues to grow. So we have the uncommon result of a more or less horizontal oak that now sprouts a new canopy vertically.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
200-300cm, 30 Litre pot (1 available)
300-400cm, 70L (1 available)
300-400cm, 90L (4 available)
400-500cm, 130L (2 available)
Oakling ages: 10 years old (seed from 2015).
ID codes: BP 1561.
Wee Little Legend Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): c. 250 years (a very rough guess - see below for the explanation).
Form: Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 3.03m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1772
Reigning Monarch at the time: George III
Story: this is the cutest of all the Brampton Bryan Oaks. Although its girth would in theory give an age of only around 130 years, its wonderful extensive 'root plate' is over 5m wide, suggesting it is much older than that. On the western side it is large enough to lay on and watch the sunset. It's probably that the extremely windswept and exposed conditions here have slowed it's growth somewhat. It's acorns are also unbelievably cute and the tiniest of all the acorns we have ever gathered.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
125-175cm, 7 Litre pot (4 available)
150-250cm, 15L (8 available)
175-275cm, 20L (6 available)
200-300cm, 30L (1 available)
300-400cm, 70L (1 available)
300-400cm, 90L (4 available)
400-500cm, 130L (2 available)
Oakling ages: 6, 7, 9 & 10 year-olds (seed from 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).
ID codes: BP 1563, 1576, 1611, 1636.
Twin Trunk Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 444 years.
Form: Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 6.31m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1581
Reigning Monarch at the time: Elizabeth I
Story: a handsome old oak with two fine main boles and a delightful form overall.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
150-200cm, 12 Litre pot (2 available)
150-250cm, 15L (1 available)
175-275cm, 20L (1 available)
300-400cm, 70L (2 available)
300-400cm, 90L (6 available)
400-500cm, 130L (2 available)
Oakling ages: 7 & 10 year-olds (seed from 2015 & 2018).
ID codes: BP 1562, 1612.
Fern Dell Pond Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 612 years.
Form: Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 7.48m (measured in 2015)
Estimated Year of Birth: 1413
Reigning Monarch at the time: Henry IV & Henry V
Story: a stately guardian of this delightfully peaceful little ferny pond, a small quiet dell in the parkland.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
150-200cm, 12 Litre pot (3 available)
200-300cm, 30L (1 available)
300-400cm, 70L (1 available)
300-400cm, 90L (1 available)
300-450cm, 110L (1 available)
400-500cm, 130L (1 available)
Oakling ages: 10 year-olds (seed from 2015 only).
ID codes: BP 1564.
The Identical Twin
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): c. 920 years or c. 400 years!!
Form: Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 9.25m (measured in 2015) - but a bit of an anomaly - this 'tree' might actually be two trees, leaning against one another - perhaps we need to do some genetic analysis to decide!
Estimated Year of Birth: 1105 or 1625
Reigning Monarch at the time: Henry I or Charles I ?
Story: a giant of a tree, or perhaps a pair of trees leaning together in a warm embrace. Time will tell whether it's one tree or two.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
100-150cm, 7 Litre pot (1 available)
150-250cm, 15L (4 available)
Oakling ages: 9 year-olds (seed from 2016 only).
ID codes: BP 1572.
Lichen Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 249 years - one of the younger oaks we have visited but a lovely thing.
Form: Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 4.44m (measured in 2016).
Estimated Year of Birth:1776
Reigning Monarch at the time: George III
Story: this lovely veteran pollard oak was conspicuously covered on lichens, a sign of good healthy air.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
100-150cm, 7 Litre pot (6 available)
150-250cm, 15L (7 available)
175-225cm, 20L (1 available)
Oakling ages: 6 year-olds (seed from 2019 only).
ID codes: BP 1633.
Broad Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 234 years - another one of the younger oaks we have visited, with a gracefully broad crown, heaving with mosses and epiphytes - perhaps this is actually a fragment of remnant temperate rainforest.
Form: Maiden.
Girth at 1.5m: 4.25m (measured in 2016).
Estimated Year of Birth:1791
Reigning Monarch at the time: George III
Story: a beautiful broad younger veteran oak, with a lovely habit and graceful form, displaying a very wide canopy and with lovely acorns.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
100-150cm, 7 Litre pot (1 available)
150-250cm, 15L (5 available)
175-225cm, 20L (2 available)
Oakling ages: 9 year-olds (seed from 2016 only).
ID codes: BP 1573.
Flutey Rooty
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 352 years.
Form: Maiden.
Girth at 1.5m: 5.42m (measured in 2016).
Estimated Year of Birth:1673
Reigning Monarch at the time: Charles II
Story: this tree is kind of hard to spot, in that the bracken is sometimes high and its branches grow right down to the ground on all sides, which conceal its true girth. The fluting of the lower roots on the downward slope is exquisite and the best example we have ever seen.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
100-150cm, 7 Litre pot (1 available)
175-250cm, 20L (2 available)
Oakling ages: 9 year-olds (seed from 2016 only).
ID codes: BP 1578.
The Secret
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 576 years.
Form: Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 7.16m (measured in 2016).
Estimated Year of Birth:1449
Reigning Monarch at the time: Henry VI
Story: this oak was missed by several surveyors, in all seasons, as it's one of the only old oaks in this part of the park, right down low by the Welsh border. It has retrenched so well that there is almost a secondary canopy screening the trunk entirely, as it commands its own little secret dell. We came across it in 2016 and realised later that it hadn't been mapped or recorded before, one of two 6m+ oaks that Benedict was able to add to the site list.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
150-250cm, 15 Litre pot (1 available)
Oakling ages: 9 year-old (seed from 2016 only).
ID codes: BP 1577.
Rosecorn Oak
Species: Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 385 years.
Form: lapsed Pollard.
Girth at 1.5m: 5.75m (measured in 2018).
Estimated Year of Birth:1640
Reigning Monarch at the time: Charles I
Story: this lapsed Pollard oak has the most wonderful broad spreading peaceful habit overlooking the Welsh border. It was particularly noticeable in having acorns all tinged a lovely warm rosy-pink colour, not seen before or since on any other oaks we have gathered from.
Approximate sizes available (get in touch for prices):
100-175cm, 7 Litre pot (3 available)
150-250cm, 15L (11 available)
175-275cm, 20L (6 available)
Oakling ages: 7-year-olds only (seed from 2018 only).
ID codes: BP 1610.