The Clachan Oak

TC

TC

Participating member
This Oak is around 400-500 years old, the metal bands around the trunk were used to chain petty criminals to as a form of public ridicule up until the end of the 18th century. They now hold the tree together, I suspect the original metal bands were replaced a long time ago. Not sure why the wooden boards are there, perhaps to stop children climbing in, as it's hollow.

You dont see trees like this every day -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyzlr_mYw60&feature=youtu.be




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I can't believe that old fellow hasn't been professionally cabled!

Say it ain't so Grover?

You can do it!

jomoco
 
It seems like it's supporting so many other species, even in a less-than-wild location. Cool! Lichen, moss, other plants (probably an invasive vine?)

Is that tree still kickin'? Looked like a few twigs here and there. Pretty ripe looking, but still cool!
 
The name Balfron translates as “village of mourning” and there is a legend behind the name.
“While the men-folk were at the Ibert - the place of sacrifice above the village - they heard screams from the settlement below and rushed to discover that the children of the village had been taken by wolves. This gave the village its name "bail'-a-bhroin", Balfron, the village of mourning”.

Park at N 56 04.442 W 004 20.139 at Balfron Golf Club and make the short walk to The Clachan, the historic centre of the village.

Here you will find The Clachan Oak, an ancient sessile oak where William Wallace is said to have rested, and later Rob Roy is supposed to have hidden inside.
It is unlikely to have been around at the time of Wallace, however, it is very old.
The tree trunk is hollow and the iron hoops encircling the trunk support the outer trunk.
These served a dual purpose until the end of the 18th century. Petty criminals were chained from an iron collar around their necks to the hoops and subjected to public ridicule and abuse.
Sounds like a good idea that should be resurrected.


Not to sure about that last line.
 
the metal bands that are probably holding it together (top band) aren't doing much good - restricting nutrient flow from roots to shoots and vice versa photosynthates from leaf to roots, especially the lower metal band, but attempting to remove them at this late stage may cause more damage?

The tree needs help for sure.

TheClachanOakBalfronStirlingshire_000.jpg
 
Have you determined who to contact to try and save the tree yet Grover?

Without help relatively soon it will surely die.

I've cabled a few historic trees with good results.

jomoco
 
What's the actual DBH there, 7-8 feet?

Looks like a combination of steel cabling up top, and 3-4 galvanized one inch steel rods with 6 inch round steel washers, slightly rounded to match the curvature of the trunk might do the trick.

Once that's all installed nice and snug/ tight, I'd use a pneumatic grinder to cut those steel bands into one foot sections in the hope they can be eased out without damaging the bark/cambium, or just leave them and let the natural growth expansion push them out.

It would be an extremely challenging and time consuming cabling job no doubt.

But you could do it!

jomoco
 
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