The Peace Oak in Sydney Gardens can be found on the same path as the Cappadocian Maple, just a little further along the path beside the play area. The Peace Oak, also known as the Common Oak or the Golden Oak, is native of Europe and the Caucasus.
This Peace Oak was planted in July 1919 as part of the Peace Day celebrations in Bath to mark the end of the First World War. The cultivar originated in a nursery in the Flanders town of Ghent, Belgium in 1843. Perhaps the Concordia variety was chosen as the Peace Oak due to its connection to Belgium, which became hallowed ground following the Great War.
The 100th anniversary of the planting of the Peace Oak was celebrated in July 2019, which was attended by the granddaughter and family of Mayor, Cllr Wills who planted the tree. The stone plaque has been kindly donated by Bath Freemasons; Alderman Willis was a past Master of Royal Albert Edward Lodge no. 906 in Bath.
Additionally, for the 100th Anniversary event, Bathwick St Marys year 4 school children took part in art lessons inspired by of the original event and created plaques and artwork which were on display at the anniversary event. Further, a donation of the famous Sally Lunn Bunns was made to the event by Jonathan Overton, echoing the activity at the opening event of the Georgian Pleasure Gardens on 11th May 1795, where Sally Lunn Bunns were served hot from portable baking ovens.
The Concordia cultivar is deciduous, slow growing and generally only achieves a modest stature; 7-10 meters but can live to over 300 years of age. The Oak is characterised by its golden hued spring foliage, which matures to dark green during the summer months before becoming golden brown in the autumn. The tree has a broad spread and a rounded crown. The leaves, 7-12cm long, have 3-7 blunt deep lobes on each side of the leaf. The trunk is typically short, and the bark is dark grey to black in colour with a furrowed and ridge surface.
The Peace Oak is monoecious; bearing both male and female flowers/catkins on the same tree, which are yellow greenish in colour. The catkins appear in April (at the same time as the new leaves) and distribute pollen into the air. The fruit/seeds of the oak are the oval shaped acorn; 2-2.5cm in length with the cap covering about 1/3 of the acorn. The green seed ripens to brown in the autumn and loosens from the cup, falling to the ground ready to sprout in the spring. The Oak is usually 25-30 years old before acorns are produced.
The Peace Oak is monoecious; bearing both male and female flowers/catkins on the same tree, which are yellow greenish in colour. The catkins appear in April (at the same time as the new leaves) and distribute pollen into the air. The fruit/seeds of the oak are the oval shaped acorn; 2-2.5cm in length with the cap covering about 1/3 of the acorn. The green seed ripens to brown in the autumn and loosens from the cup, falling to the ground ready to sprout in the spring. The Oak is usually 25-30 years old before acorns are produced.
Reference
Gazzard, G. A. MSc (2021) wrote the above article with information from the following sources.
Rose, B. BSc (Hons) MSc DipArb(RFS) MICFor RCArborA Chartered Arboriculturist Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant (2020). Bosky Trees, Arboricultural Impact Assessment & Tree Protection Plan for trees atSydney Gardens, Bath. (Accessed 13/03/21).
The Peace Oak booklet produced by the Sydney Gardens Project (2020), compiled by Sue Palmer with historical research by Anne Cullis. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://www.bathscape.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peace-Oak.pdf
White, R. S. PhD (2020). Sydney Gardens: a self-guided walking tour reflecting on botany, empire, reluctant heritage and deep time. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/sydney-gardens-a-reluctant-heritage-a-walking-tour-reflecting-on-botany-empire-and-deep-time-789d71c0c288
Guinea, L. (Bath Spa University Student). Trees of Sydney Gardens Bath (2020). (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/trees-of-sydney-gardens-bath-ca1b624e371a
Hillier Trees. Common Oak/English Oak. Quercus robur ‘Concordia’. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:https://www.hillier.co.uk/trees/listings/quercus-robur/
Missouri Botanical Gardens. Common Oak/English Oak. Quercus robur ‘Concordia’. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=268555&isprofile=0&
Wikipedia Quercus robur Peace Oak. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_robur
Gazzard, G. A. MSc (2021) wrote the above article with information from the following sources.
Rose, B. BSc (Hons) MSc DipArb(RFS) MICFor RCArborA Chartered Arboriculturist Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant (2020). Bosky Trees, Arboricultural Impact Assessment & Tree Protection Plan for trees atSydney Gardens, Bath. (Accessed 13/03/21).
The Peace Oak booklet produced by the Sydney Gardens Project (2020), compiled by Sue Palmer with historical research by Anne Cullis. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://www.bathscape.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peace-Oak.pdf
White, R. S. PhD (2020). Sydney Gardens: a self-guided walking tour reflecting on botany, empire, reluctant heritage and deep time. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/sydney-gardens-a-reluctant-heritage-a-walking-tour-reflecting-on-botany-empire-and-deep-time-789d71c0c288
Guinea, L. (Bath Spa University Student). Trees of Sydney Gardens Bath (2020). (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/trees-of-sydney-gardens-bath-ca1b624e371a
Hillier Trees. Common Oak/English Oak. Quercus robur ‘Concordia’. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:https://www.hillier.co.uk/trees/listings/quercus-robur/
Missouri Botanical Gardens. Common Oak/English Oak. Quercus robur ‘Concordia’. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=268555&isprofile=0&
Wikipedia Quercus robur Peace Oak. (Accessed 13/03/21). Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_robur