The Birnam Oak
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This
ancient sessile oak (Quercus
petraea) stands on the banks of the River Tay near the
Perthshire villages of Birnam and Dunkeld. It is said to be the
last survivor of the legendary Birnam Wood, immortalised in
Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The witches’ prophecy literally came
true, when Malcolm’s army camouflaged itself with branches from
the great wood and took by surprise Macbeth’s stronghold at
Dunsinane, 20 kilometres (12 miles) to the south east:
"Macbeth
shall never vanquish’d be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him."
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It
is unlikely that this fine old veteran, sometimes known as 'Macbeth’s
Oak', was around to furnish Malcolm’s soldiers with greenery when the
battle is reputed to have been fought, in 1057. It is, however, several
centuries old and represents a living relic of the great medieval
oakwood which once clothed the banks of the
Tay
. A stately survivor of a
bygone age, its literary connection has resulted in it’s becoming one
of Scotland’s better-known heritage-trees.
The
tree, some 27 metres (90 feet) high, boasts an impressive girth of 5.5
metres (18 feet), and has a widely spreading canopy approaching 36
metres (120 feet). This is
composed of long, horizontal limbs in poor condition; many of which have
been supported on props for over 30 years. In
recent years Arboretum Internationale Limited has carried out tree-work
operations to remove dangerous dead branches, fell competing young trees
and replace defective props.
Despite
the presence of many structural defects {a huge open cavity in the main
stem, infection with decay fungi (Laetiporus
sulphureus and Daedalea
quercina), numerous old, decaying pruning wounds and long, cracked,
decaying lateral limbs}, with careful attention the Birnam Oak should
continue to thrive and perhaps endure for another 400 years.
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