Local grafting experts Adam Cade and Gareth Powell will join staff from the Woodland Trust in taking cuttings from the Grantham Oak in the hope of cloning the ancient tree.
Ancient tree experts from the Grantham-based Woodland Trust, Denise Tergeine who is leading the project, and Gareth and Adam will be available for interview.
A project to produce “off spring” saplings from Grantham’s oldest tree could see its special dynasty preserved in the town for future generations.
The Woodland Trust is embarking on an ambitious plan to take cuttings from the Grantham Oak and graft to root stock – essentially cloning the tree – to continue its lineage.
The plan is the brainchild of Grantham resident Denise Tegerdine, from the Trust’s urban team, who was inspired following a visit last year to Windsor Great Park in Berkshire (home to one of the largest collections of ancient and veteran oak and beech trees in northern Europe). Here they have produced saplings of the 1,300 year old Offa’s tree at Windsor Great Park using this method .
Denise, who works in the Woodland Trust’s campaigns team, said:“The Grantham Oak is the area’s most treasured tree. To be given this chance to preserve its unique DNA and extend its family tree through this lineage project is a very unique opportunity.”
South Kestevan District Council has granted planning permission to enable the work to go ahead.
Local grafting experts Adam Cade and Gareth Powell of Susted will be carrying it out using Lincolnshire oak rootstock from the Grimsthorpe Castle Estate and the Bowthorpe Oak near Bourne. The grafts will then be grown-on by volunteers in the National Trust’s nursery at Belton House. If successful, they will be planted in around two years’ time at the Woodland Trust’s Londonthorpe Wood, National Trust-owned Belmount and within Queen Elizabeth Park, for the benefit of future generations.
Emma Gilmartin, Conservation Advisor for the Woodland Trust said:“We hope the grafting is successful and that we get healthy saplings to continue the genetic history of the tree.
“This method may have some benefits over others, for example not by simply growing new trees from acorns, because grafting may also conserve the microbiome which is the fungi and bacteria living inside the tissues taken from the tree”.
SKDC Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities, Cllr Annie Mason commented: “South Kesteven District Council is an enthusiastic supporter of our tree population, and the majestic Grantham Oak is no exception. We were pleased to be able to facilitate this Woodland Trust project for new saplings after working closely with the Woodland Trust to protect its roots from vehicle damage, ensuring the tree’s continued health and safety.
“Tree planting helps to address the issues that climate change presents, as they absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere as they grow into their surroundings to create their own history – and I look forward to seeing the resulting saplings being planted locally alongside many others to replenish open areas and parts of our towns in need of new trees.”
National Trust Belton House Lead Ranger, Chris Shaw commented: “The Grantham Oak is a magnificent tree which should be loved and cherished and it is a great honour to be asked to grow-on and nurture the saplings from this great tree in our nursery at Belton.
“The saplings will be cared for by our tree nursery volunteers, and when the young trees are ready they will be planted out at Londonthorpe Wood and Bellmount.”
Local signage is already in place which directs visitors to the Grantham Oak from Wyndham Park and Queen Elizabeth Park after funding was awarded to the council when the tree achieved runners-up status in the Woodland Trust’s ‘Tree of the Year’ competition in 2021 . It is hoped to link the new saplings to the Grantham Oak with information boards about their lineage situated at each site.
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