The Wellington Heath Jubilee Oak Tree

The original oak was planted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in1897.

At that time the main mode of transport in Wellington Heath was by foot, or farm cart, and the very first car ever seen in the village was this year of the Diamond Jubilee. The Jubilee Oak grew proud, strong, and broad, at the centre of the main junction of two lanes at the top of the village becoming a much-loved village symbol. A children’s swing was hung from one of the main boughs, the marks of the ropes still seen many years later when the dead tree was lopped. It also became the village notice board for many years, with notices tacked to it.

As the years went by the lanes were tarmacked, and kerbstones were placed around the tree. Salt was used in winter, and vehicle fumes began to surround the tree. The environment changed, and not for the better. The tree was dying. By 2021 there had long been discontent about the sad decline, and ultimately the death of the oak tree.

A small group was set up on behalf of the Parish Council to consider what to do. After much discussion and consultation, it was decided that the old oak tree be made safe, and carved. This was combined with the popular decision to link the tree, planted to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, with that of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

Our chosen sculptor, Simon O’Rourke, took on board suggestions from the village that the oak should, not only take on board the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee, but also commemorate some of the wildlife found in the village, including the sculpting of a guinea fowl that was parading up and down a village lane. He removed the brown rot in the tree, and in removing the affected parts created ‘spaces’ for birds and bats to roost. Also one wing of the red kite crowning the sculpture had to be grafted on due to rot in one of the main branches. There are a total of sixteen creatures in the sculpture, but you always lose count! As well as the wildlife, the sculpture features a scroll giving the tree a more regal feel, it reads VR 1897 – EIIR 2022, reminding people of the special occasions the sculpture celebrates.

There were many in the village who commented that a cheeky monkey peeping out somewhere might be appropriate in light of the village’s nickname of ‘Monkey Island’. The story behind this is that Wellington Heath was known locally as Monkey Island due to the bricklayers, and scaffold climbers who squatted in the valley when building the Ledbury railway viaduct in 1859. Hence the hidden monkey.

One challenge Simon had was the number of nails he hit due to the tree being once used as a local noticeboard: over one hundred. Metal fragments are not a chainsaw’s friend, so there was a lot of resharpening! The nails had also created staining which will, in the main, be left as part of the history of the tree.

The newly carved Jubilee Oak was finished in time for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Elizabeth II, marking the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6th February 1952.

Wellington Heath celebrated with a special Jubilee Tea Party; the day ending with a bonfire on the local Oyster Hill, one of many that joined the lighting of Platinum Jubilee Beacons throughout the land.