One of the older trees in the forest and certainly one of the most well known, the Knightwood Oak stands majestically set in open forest and dwarfing all about it. At 600 years or so old this huge pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) is a forestry veteran. It is believed it was first pollarded when it was 200 years old, say around 1600 and was last pollarded in the 1850's. The pollarding of Oak and Beech was forbidden in the forest from 1698, so precious was New Forest timber for the navy and admiralty marks can still be seen on many of the remaining older trees. So the pollarding of the Knightwood Oak 150 years ago was unusual, or illegal, as some trees were still cut unlawfully. The Knightwood Oak is one of the more accessible of the ancient forest trees. A lovely tree to visit, although during the busy season it can become, ..... busy.
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