Gilwell Oak, Remarkable oak in Gilwell Park, United Kingdom
The Gilwell Oak is an English oak growing at the edge of the training grounds in Gilwell Park, a Scout activity site on the northeastern fringe of London. The tree has a broad trunk and wide, low-reaching branches that give it a distinctive shape visible from across the grounds.
Gilwell Park was donated to the Scout Association in 1919 and quickly became the movement's main training ground. The oak was already standing on the site at that time and has been part of the grounds ever since.
Wood from fallen branches of this oak has long been carved into beads given to Scout leaders who finish their training at the park. Visitors familiar with the Scout tradition will recognize these small wooden tokens as a meaningful part of the movement's culture.
The tree stands in an accessible part of Gilwell Park and is easy to find given its size and position near the training area. Walking around it from different sides gives a better sense of how wide and low its branches reach.
In 2017, this oak was voted Tree of the Year in England and finished fifth in a Europe-wide vote. The result showed that the tree had gained recognition well beyond the world of Scouting.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
