FEATURE
Centenary Oak Project A tree planting scheme devised by Michael Fuller, Laxton House
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t exactly 11.00 on the 11 November 2020, just as Her Majesty the Queen was commemorating the centenary of the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, the first of over 300 oak saplings was planted by the Oundle School Headmaster, Sara Kerr-Dineen. These saplings were grown from acorns that were gathered two years earlier, from the oak trees on Pavilion Drive that were themselves planted one hundred before that, in memory of the pupils and staff from Oundle School that lost their lives during WW I. Almost 1200 pupils and staff from Oundle School served in the armed forces during the conflict. Between them, they were awarded more than 200 medals for valour, honour, distinguished service and conduct under fire. Of all those that went to war, almost one in four never returned and the Roll of Honour displayed in Cloisters pays tribute to more than 260 Oundle pupils and staff that lost their lives during the fighting. They ranged in rank from Private to Brigadier General, and in age from 47 to just 17. Almost ninety of these brave souls have no known grave. Although the loss of every casualty of the conflict was deeply felt, one more than most affected the Headmaster at the time, William Sanderson. In April 1918, his eldest son, Roy Broughton Sanderson, died of the wounds he received while fighting in Flanders. The headmaster was deeply affected by this loss and shortly after the war an avenue of English oak trees were planted along Pavilion Drive to act as a living memorial, providing a daily reminder to all pupils of the sacrifice and service made in order to secure the peace, prosperity and freedom we all enjoy today.
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2020-2021
The English oak is a symbol of strength, resilience, courage and endeavour. For centuries the oak has shaped and supported the United Kingdom. English oak timbers have been used to build great naval ships, providing the vessels for James Cook, Admiral Nelson and the great polar expeditions of Scott and Shackleton. oak transformed the style, function and durability of houses, castles and places of learning and worship. The deep shade and shelter of oak woodland have given refuge to people during times of hardship and conflict; been the source of inspiration for great art, music, poetry and literature, fairy stories, folk-law, outlaws and heroes; and the oak provides habitat for over three hundred bird and insect species, making it one of the most important trees of all time. Today, the oak plays a vital role in combating Climate Change. In the Autumn of 2018, the oaks on Pavilion Drive produced an incredible crop of acorns, far larger than normal. Over 1,000 of these were
gathered up, and the best looking 500 were placed in cold store, to break dormancy, before being planted into sandy, peat-free compost. Two years later, almost 300 had survived severe drought, snow, squirrels, re-location during lock-down and the attention of a very curious puppy, to become healthy saplings. The original plan was to plant these saplings in the Oundle community, as part of a bigger tree-planting scheme, not just as a living memorial, but to also strengthen our environment, enhance our wildlife, create enjoyment and provide inspiration. The mighty oak starts its journey as a tiny acorn, becomes a fragile seedling, and, with gentle encouragement, nurturing support and good fortune, may grow for a thousand years, gently rewarding all those that share its shade and delight in its majesty with a constant reminder that, from such humble beginnings and patient endeavours, comes the strength, courage, fortitude and resilience to prevail over adversity.