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#1
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The Oak of the Six Brothers
While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we
came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. When we returned home I did a search on Yahoo and, although the one we saw is not listed anywhere, indeed there are others like it that are listed. There is one in Burgundy which looks very similar to the one that we saw. The link to that one is: http://www.onf.fr/FORET/flore/arbremark/freres.htm We have also found others with five and four divisions, all known as "brothers". Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Foolishly I didn't have my camera with me. Next time I shall! Fascinated but perplexed! David P.S. What's happened to the urg contributor who lives near Bagnoles? I haven't seen any posts from her recently and, unfortunately, I can't remember her name. -- +------------------------------------------------------------+ | Internet: | writing from | | Fidonet: David Rance 2:252/110 | Le Mesnil Villement, | | BBS: telnet://mesnil.demon.co.uk | Calvados, France | +------------------------------------------------------------+ |
#2
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In article ,
David Rance wrote: While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Lots of them. When a tree like an oak has its growing shoot removed, it will regrow with any number of new ones. It is rare for this to be more than two or three, if the young shoot is eaten by an animal, but it can be quite a lot if a half-grown-tree is struck by lightning or otherwise broken off. People also used to pollard oaks deliberately, though coppicing was more common, because the 4-6" shoots were extremely valuable for firewood, charcoal, building etc. See Rackham on this. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#3
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On 10/8/05 21:02, in article , "David Rance"
wrote: While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. When we returned home I did a search on Yahoo and, although the one we saw is not listed anywhere, indeed there are others like it that are listed. There is one in Burgundy which looks very similar to the one that we saw. The link to that one is: http://www.onf.fr/FORET/flore/arbremark/freres.htm We have also found others with five and four divisions, all known as "brothers". Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Foolishly I didn't have my camera with me. Next time I shall! Fascinated but perplexed! Pollarding? The French seem to pollard trees a great deal. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
#4
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In message , Nick Maclaren
writes While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Lots of them. When a tree like an oak has its growing shoot removed, it will regrow with any number of new ones. It is rare for this to be more than two or three, if the young shoot is eaten by an animal, but it can be quite a lot if a half-grown-tree is struck by lightning or otherwise broken off. People also used to pollard oaks deliberately, though coppicing was more common, because the 4-6" shoots were extremely valuable for firewood, charcoal, building etc. See Rackham on this. Thanks, Nick and Sacha, for your replies. I don't think that it's pollarding and the theory of cutting off the leader to provide side-shoots had also occurred to us. But there does seem to be more to it than that. The six branches don't grow out at an angle which is what you would normally expect when the leader is damaged in some way, they grow straight up rather like the columns of a classical temple. When we go that way again (probably again next Sunday to visit our favourite tea-shop!) I'll make sure I have my camera with me and see if I can take a better picture than the one I referred to - in that one you can see only about three of the branches. We have a couple of young oaks here in our garden, one in honour of the birth of our first grandchild born nearly eleven years ago. Charlie's Oak has been nibbled frequently by sheep in the past but we've got rid of them now so there should be plenty of branches that we can train. I'll let you know in about fifty years' time whether we have been successful! David -- +------------------------------------------------------------+ | Internet: | writing from | | Fidonet: David Rance 2:252/110 | Le Mesnil Villement, | | BBS: telnet://mesnil.demon.co.uk | Calvados, France | +------------------------------------------------------------+ |
#5
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In article ,
David Rance wrote: Thanks, Nick and Sacha, for your replies. I don't think that it's pollarding and the theory of cutting off the leader to provide side-shoots had also occurred to us. But there does seem to be more to it than that. The six branches don't grow out at an angle which is what you would normally expect when the leader is damaged in some way, they grow straight up rather like the columns of a classical temple. Why shouldn't it be pollarding? And the side shoots DO grow up vertically from the top when a tree is pollarded. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#6
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http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm
"David Rance" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are I don't know how it was done but I imagine if you planted six acorns in a hexagon with a foot between them then after a 100 years they would look like one tree with six leaders. -- Martin & Anna Sykes ( Remove x's when replying ) |
#7
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David Rance wrote:
In message , Nick Maclaren writes While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Thanks, Nick and Sacha, for your replies. I don't think that it's pollarding and the theory of cutting off the leader to provide side-shoots had also occurred to us. But there does seem to be more to it than that. The six branches don't grow out at an angle which is what you would normally expect when the leader is damaged in some way, they grow straight up rather like the columns of a classical temple. Some years ago I had the pleasure of producing illustrations for English Nature's _Veteran Trees: a guide to good management_. The list of veteran tree types includes 'bundle planting', trees grown from two or more seedlings/plants (often, but not always, the same spp) grown in very close proximity. What you describe could have developed from a bundle of six -- apparently the trunks become semi-fused and it may be very difficult indeed to work out precisely how many trees were in the group to start with. "Reasons for planting bundles are not always known, but broadly speaking three main types can probably be distinguished: + a naturally occurring bundle, the result of an accident of seed fall or an animal burying a cache of seeds that then germinate. + a forester planting trees who slips several in a hole together to finish the task quicker [sic] + the result of a planned decision to create a bundle or multi-stemmed tree. This can be for several reasons, for example: - for landscape purposes, often in designed landscapes to create a wide spreading crown more quickly. For example it was recommended by Evelyn in the 17th century and is a technique known to landscapers. - for agricultural purposes. In some wood-apstrues a few bundles can be found. This may of course be accidental but it has been suggested that they might have been deliberately managed to confer distinct benefits, eg produce seed (when all the other trees around them were pollarded regularly and did not)." I'd add the obvious one that EN missed: a commemorative planting. regards sarah -- Think of it as evolution in action. |
#8
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#9
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Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , (sarah) writes: | | "Reasons for planting bundles are not always known, but broadly speaking | three main types can probably be distinguished: | ... | | I'd add the obvious one that EN missed: a commemorative planting. An even more obvious one, which applies mostly to small counts, is that multiple seeds were planted to ensure that at least one germinated, and they never got thinned out. This was, after all, recommended practice - and it is very common to cut back on projects after they have been started. Yes. I'll have to mention it if the book is ever reprinted. regards sarah -- Think of it as evolution in action. |
#10
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In message , sarah
writes While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Some years ago I had the pleasure of producing illustrations for English Nature's _Veteran Trees: a guide to good management_. The list of veteran tree types includes 'bundle planting', trees grown from two or more seedlings/plants (often, but not always, the same spp) grown in very close proximity. What you describe could have developed from a bundle of six -- apparently the trunks become semi-fused and it may be very difficult indeed to work out precisely how many trees were in the group to start with. Thanks, Sarah, for your most interesting information. We went back to see the oak again today and what you say about a bundle having been planted appears to be correct. When you suggested that I thought that it wasn't likely as one would expect to see some fluting of the main trunk and I couldn't remember seeing that. However, looking again at the tree, the main trunk *is* fluted and it looks as though originally there may have been about eight saplings/acorns in the bundle. I took several photographs and I've uploaded one of them to my web site. It's about 100k but shows the tree in some detail. Higher up there are branches sticking out at strange angles and there is evidence of quite a bit of pruning back in order to keep the unusual shape. Also we noticed that other trees growing in front of it have been cut down recently which is why we have never noticed it until this year. The URL for the photo is: http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk/photos/6_brothers_oak.JPG Also, I would mention that there are masses of saplings all around the tree. Would the tree originally have grown from a bunch of acorns (either planted by a human or a squirrel), or would they have been planted as saplings? David -- +------------------------------------------------------------+ | Internet: | writing from | | Fidonet: David Rance 2:252/110 | Le Mesnil Villement, | | BBS: telnet://mesnil.demon.co.uk | Calvados, France | +------------------------------------------------------------+ |
#11
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The message
from David Rance contains these words: Also, I would mention that there are masses of saplings all around the tree. Would the tree originally have grown from a bunch of acorns (either planted by a human or a squirrel), or would they have been planted as saplings? I'd go for planting as a ring of saplings. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
#12
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Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message from David Rance contains these words: Also, I would mention that there are masses of saplings all around the tree. Would the tree originally have grown from a bunch of acorns (either planted by a human or a squirrel), or would they have been planted as saplings? I'd go for planting as a ring of saplings. Technical query. If a tree were coppiced early in life, might the shoots not grow together in the same way if subsequently left alone? -- Mike. |
#13
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The message
from David Rance contains these words: In message , sarah writes While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Some years ago I had the pleasure of producing illustrations for English Nature's _Veteran Trees: a guide to good management_. The list of veteran tree types includes 'bundle planting', trees grown from two or more seedlings/plants (often, but not always, the same spp) grown in very close proximity. What you describe could have developed from a bundle of six -- apparently the trunks become semi-fused and it may be very difficult indeed to work out precisely how many trees were in the group to start with. Thanks, Sarah, for your most interesting information. We went back to see the oak again today and what you say about a bundle having been planted appears to be correct. When you suggested that I thought that it wasn't likely as one would expect to see some fluting of the main trunk and I couldn't remember seeing that. However, looking again at the tree, the main trunk *is* fluted and it looks as though originally there may have been about eight saplings/acorns in the bundle. I took several photographs and I've uploaded one of them to my web site. It's about 100k but shows the tree in some detail. Higher up there are branches sticking out at strange angles and there is evidence of quite a bit of pruning back in order to keep the unusual shape. Also we noticed that other trees growing in front of it have been cut down recently which is why we have never noticed it until this year. The URL for the photo is: http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk/photos/6_brothers_oak.JPG Also, I would mention that there are masses of saplings all around the tree. Would the tree originally have grown from a bunch of acorns (either planted by a human or a squirrel), or would they have been planted as saplings? Probably the latter. There's someone in the UK who produces very complex "living sculptures" from native trees grown that way then shaped, or the stems plaited together by grafts etc. IIRC It's a very old tradition with possibly some pagan origin. I had his website url on the old computer but don't think I transferred it to this one. Also, people sometimes used to grow saplings and graft them together to create an angle they required for tools, door and wall frames etc..you might find a web reference. Janet. |
#14
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David Rance wrote:
In message , sarah writes While out for a drive on Sunday in the beautiful Norman countryside we came across an unusual oak quite close to the town of Bagnoles de l'Orne. At about head height the main trunk splits into six and is known as the Chęne des Six Frčres. Struck by the strangeness of this phenomenon we wondered whether it was a freak of nature or whether it had been persuaded to grow in this way for some reason. ... Can anyone tell me how it's possible to persuade an oak to divide its main trunk in this way? It is certainly an arresting sight. Also are there any similar examples in the UK? Third question: why do people do it? Some years ago I had the pleasure of producing illustrations for English Nature's _Veteran Trees: a guide to good management_. The list of veteran tree types includes 'bundle planting', trees grown from two or more seedlings/plants (often, but not always, the same spp) grown in very close proximity. What you describe could have developed from a bundle of six -- apparently the trunks become semi-fused and it may be very difficult indeed to work out precisely how many trees were in the group to start with. Thanks, Sarah, for your most interesting information. We went back to see the oak again today and what you say about a bundle having been planted appears to be correct. When you suggested that I thought that it wasn't likely as one would expect to see some fluting of the main trunk and I couldn't remember seeing that. However, looking again at the tree, the main trunk *is* fluted and it looks as though originally there may have been about eight saplings/acorns in the bundle. I took several photographs and I've uploaded one of them to my web site. It's about 100k but shows the tree in some detail. Higher up there are branches sticking out at strange angles and there is evidence of quite a bit of pruning back in order to keep the unusual shape. Also we noticed that other trees growing in front of it have been cut down recently which is why we have never noticed it until this year. The URL for the photo is: http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk/photos/6_brothers_oak.JPG It is impressive, isn't it? Very similar to one of the pictures I was given to work from :-) I suspect the area's been cleared to ensure that passers-by pay proper attention. Also, I would mention that there are masses of saplings all around the tree. Would the tree originally have grown from a bunch of acorns (either planted by a human or a squirrel), or would they have been planted as saplings? Could be either, I think. If our squirrel had been more artistic, we'd have a multi-stemmed hazel in our lawn this year! regards sarah -- Think of it as evolution in action. |
#15
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Mike Lyle wrote:
Jaques d'Alltrades wrote: The message from David Rance contains these words: Also, I would mention that there are masses of saplings all around the tree. Would the tree originally have grown from a bunch of acorns (either planted by a human or a squirrel), or would they have been planted as saplings? I'd go for planting as a ring of saplings. The 'bundle' technique doesn't require a ring, just (apparently) literally a bundle of rooted cuttings or, perhaps, a handful of seeds planted in a single hole. Start planting rings of things and you're into plant sculpture. Technical query. If a tree were coppiced early in life, might the shoots not grow together in the same way if subsequently left alone? I don't know. All the coppice stools I've seen have been the result of many years of coppicing. You'll have to try it :-) regards sarah -- Think of it as evolution in action. |
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