Darley Oak, Cornwall
Darley Oak as you enter the old farmyard (photo credit: Tim Kellett)
Iconic / Famous Ancient Tree
For many centuries this hollow oak has been the subject of local folklore and curious superstitions.
>> Article on the Darley Oak first published in Pro Arb magazine
Leave a comment:
Go Back
Alex says:
Posted March 30, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Do you know how to contact the owner of the tree please? I have tried writing to them but it wasn’t delivered. Thanks
Kirstin says:
Posted February 22, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Hey, I was passing & it’s not far off the main road so if you want to see the tree it shouldn’t be a problem. 💚
Miranda Penhaligon says:
Posted August 17, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Our St Buryan Horticultural & Handicraft Show will be 80 years old in 2023. This anniversary is ‘Oak’ and we are hoping the St Buryan Academy School Children could perhaps grow some acorns from a famous Cornish Oak for the show, and then plant them. Does this oak still produce acorns? Would I be able to have some from the owner?
Bob Drew (Cllr in Carn Brea Parish) says:
Posted March 23, 2022 at 10:08 am
Good morning, I am contacting you in the hope that you may be able to help us in a project we wish to promote with our local Brownies connected to the Queens Platinum Jubilee. We have one of your oak saplings planted in our park, and we were keen to get acorns so that the Brownies could each plant one up and grow an oak, which we could then plant in our own field on the slopes of Carn Brea. Are you able to supply acorns, please, at cost, or alternatively are you able to point me in the right direction? Thank you
Cllr Bob Drew Vice Chairman, Carn Brea Parish Council.
ATF admin says:
Posted March 23, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Thank you for your comment. Are you looking for acorns specifically from the Darley Oak? If so, it’s a privately-owned tree, so any requests will need to go to the landowner. Would you like me to help put you in touch?
The Tree Council has some great advice on gathering and planting seeds: https://treecouncil.org.uk/take-action/seasonal-campaigns/seed-gathering-season/ It’s the wrong time of year though – late September through to late October is the best time to be gathering the seeds. The usual tree planting season is November to March when conditions are wet, cool, and less susceptibility to drought.
If you wish for general oak trees, you can buy saplings (not acorns) from the Woodland Trust: https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/english-oak or https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/sessile-oak.