A HISTORIC Dorset tree, with links to Tudor royalty, is under threat after a “huge” section of the trunk went “missing”.

The Remedy Oak tree, located in Woodlands near Wimborne, gets its name from a legend that King Edward VI had touched the tree and, in doing so, conveyed healing powers upon it.

Nearly 500 years later, the tree remains. However, a resident has described it as being in “a real state” after a huge chunk became lost and wires used to keep it standing.

 

This beautiful and ancient oak tree is now in need some serious need of healing."

 

Dr Alan Smith, a retired scientist and nearby resident, said: “I was driving past the tree as I do regularly and noticed a massive section of the trunk wasn’t there anymore. It looked like half the trunk had fallen off. It was so obvious that you couldn’t miss it.

“It’s being held up by wires now so it’s not looking its best, it really is in a real state.

“We have of course had storms with strong winds recently and I wonder whether the tree was damaged during this period. Such a shame.”

On the history of the tree, local blogger Terry Yarrow, AKA The Dorset Rambler, said: “Well, it seems that the King used to sit under this oak tree in Dorset and touch local people for ‘King’s Evil’.

“What we do know is that this beautiful and ancient oak tree is now in need some serious need of healing as it is nearing the end of its life. Half has already rotted away, and steel cables are now needed to prevent it collapsing into the road.”

Bournemouth Echo: The Remedy Oak tree before and after The Remedy Oak tree before and after

Tom Reed of the Woodland Trust said: “This ancient tree has experienced a collapse of a significant part of the main stem. However what is often striking about trees is their ability to lose significant amounts of their overall mass and still survive.

“This can look very dramatic and catastrophic at first, however trees are exceptionally resilient and this tree is otherwise still alive despite losing such a big volume of the trunk."

The Oak, believed to be more than 800 years old, is situated on the Horton Road in Woodlands, next to the B3081 between Verwood and Wimborne. The tree is also namesake for the nearby Remedy Oak Golf Club, constructed in 2006.

Last August, the Remedy Oak was nominated for the Woodland Trust’s annual Tree of the Year award. The entirely hollow tree was placed in the top ten against trees throughout the UK.