The New Forest > Attractions – The Knightwood Oak Stroll

The Knightwood Oak Stroll is a gentle, 1/4 of a mile stroll through the forest and offers plenty of locations for a leafy picnic.

The Knightwood Oak, the Queen of the Forest

The Knightwood Oak, is the largest and probably the oldest oak tree in the New Forest. Probably over 500 years old, the tree is still growing and has a girth of 7.4m. The Knightwood Oak is a classic illustration of the ancient art of ‘pollarding’. The tree’s longevity and shape has been cultivated by the art, an ancient forest practice still continued to this day. Pollarding involves cutting the head off a tree to encourage new growth. Pollarding not only helped shape the trees but was also a means of creating a sustainable wood harvest for firewood and also fencing.

Some Knightwood Oak saplings have been planted around the Queen of the Forest, so that for centuries to come her reign of the forest will continue.

Directions to the Knightwood Oak Car Park

From Lyndhurst turn right off the A35 into Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive, the car park is the first one on the left.

The Knightwood Oak enclosure can be reached by following the markers to the Knightwood Oak from the car park the other side of the Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive. Follow the path and you will see the tree, now fenced off to help protect its roots.

Knightwood Oak Picture Gallery
Forestry Commission Knightwood Oak Page

Knightwood Oak Map