| Parliament Oak | |
| Location: | Near Warsop, Nottinghamshire |
| Coordinates: | 53.1873°N -1.1398°W |
| Custodian: | The Sherwood Forest Trust[1] |
The Parliament Oak is a veteran tree in Sherwood Forest. It is reputed to have been the site for impromptu-parliaments held by kings John and Edward I. In the 19th century the tree was propped-up by William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland. The tree was shortlisted for the 2017 Woodland Trust Tree of the Year award.
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The tree stood around 1.5miles from King John's Palace at Clipstone.[2] King John stayed at the palace from around the time of his 1199 accession for hunting in Clipstone Park, part of Sherwood Forest.[3] [4] Clipstone was one of the oldest parks in England, being enclosed for hunting since before the 1066 Norman Conquest.[4] The Parliament Oak is thought to date from around this time, being of comparable age to the Major Oak, which has been estimated to be 800–1000 years old.[5] [6]
It is said that John hastily assembled a parliament at the tree in 1212 upon being informed, whilst hunting, that revolts against his rule had broken out in Wales and Northern England.[7] [3] [6] [8] He is thought to have decreed that 28 Welsh boys held as hostages at Nottingham Castle were to be put to death as a consequence.[6] Other English kings of this time, including Edward I, also stayed at Clipstone for the hunting.[3] [6] Edward is also said to have assembled a parliament at the tree on Michaelmas (29 September) 1290, whilst travelling to Scotland.[6] [8] It is thought this story is more likely to be true than the legend of John's parliament; it was not uncommon for parliaments to be held outdoors in this period, particularly when discussing matters such as the royal forests.[4] [8]
The tree was drawn in 1790, at which point it measured 28inchesft6inchesin (ftin) in circumference at a height of 1yd.[2] By 1843 it stood on the Ollerton high road, at a point 4miles from Ollerton and on the fringe of what remained of Sherwood Forest. It measured 25feet in circumference at a height of 4feet from the ground and had a large hollow within it that could accommodate six men.[3] The Parliament Oak was owned at this time by William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland who feared it was in danger of dying. He ordered a support framework erected to reinforce the tree against gales. He also planted an acorn within the hollow trunk to grow a replacement.[3]
The tree stands at the edge of Clipstone Forest, in an access off the A6075 and is looked after by The Sherwood Forest Trust.[9] Its proximity to the road has placed it at risk of damage and it has previously been threatened by fly-tipping and overgrowth of nearby vegetation.[10] [11] A fence constructed to protect the tree was destroyed and in 2007 The Independent newspaper described the situation as "one of the biggest failings of our heritage protection laws".[11] A £35,000 project led by The Sherwood Forest Trust and Nottinghamshire County Council was carried out in summer 2008 to restore the area, plant 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on of new hedgerow, construct two car parking spaces and install an information plaque.[10]
The Parliament Oak has been described as relatively unknown when compared with the Major Oak but was shortlisted for the 2017 Woodland Trust Tree of the Year award.[9] [11] A pub named after the oak stood in Mansfield Woodhouse until 2011.[12]