Stately home donates oak saplings for anniversary

A World Heritage Site will donate 75 of its own oak saplings to mark 75 years since it first opened to the public.

Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire said "a wide range" of individuals, charities, schools and organisations will receive the saplings as part of its year-long legacy campaign.

The estate's oak saplings are not normally available for planting outside its boundaries.

Managing director for visitor attraction Heather Carter said it was "a unique opportunity for people to own a very special piece of our Estate".

Blenheim Palace and Estate is thought to be home to the greatest number of ancient oak trees anywhere in Europe, some of which date back to about 1000AD.

The forestry team at Blenheim Estate say it has been collecting acorns since 2016 to ensure the trees will still be there hundreds of years from now.

By using their own stock, they also reduce the risk of external infection and disease.

"We're extremely proud of our programme of propagating and protecting seedlings grown from acorns produced by the original oaks, which aims to ensure the legacy of these great survivors will live on for many years to come," said head forester Nick Baimbridge.

Ms Carter said the campaign, called Blenheim Branches Out, "seemed like the perfect way of preserving the past whilst also protecting the future".

"Sustainability lies at the heart of everything we do here at Britain's Greatest Palace, and this is a unique opportunity for people to own a very special piece of our Estate," she added.

A Blenheim spokesperson said more information, including the recipients of the saplings, would be released in the coming months.

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