The Name of the Oak

I’ve got to know my local oaks so well, I’ve given them names...

The Ghost Oak

This one looks like a phantom with arms stretched out and mouth open wide in that classic bedsheet ghost kind of way.

The Dog Sh*t Oak

Yes, that’s right, it’s never without at least one bag of poop hanging from its lower branches.

Mani, Reni, Ian & John

Three oak trees and an ash respectively, in a line, like they’re on an album cover. Named after the band members of my favourite group. You’ll have to do the work on that one.

The Door Oak

An oak in the forest with a three-foot high entrance to the base of the wonderfully-flared trunk. Surely the doorway to another world?

The Slender One

It’s got it all – height, structure, presence – like a tree on a catwalk.

The BFG Oak

This one reminds me of Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant bending forward and pointing long, spindly arms at someone.

The Moon Oaks

I shot a photograph of these trees with a full winter moon setting behind this group of three, far off oaks. The crowns of the trees seemed full and round, just like the moon.

The Ammunition Oak

Named for the old ammunition box at its foot, that once upon a time must have been fixed up high in the tree as a nesting box for kestrels.

Stuart

This one’s so normal, you’d hardly notice it, (see picture below). No offence to any Stuarts out there, but the point was to just give it a name.

▶ Do you also name particular trees? Send us a pic and tell us why - country.walking@bauermedia.co.uk