The Allerton Oak — Attraction in Liverpool

The huge Allerton Oak is a well known local landmark within Calderstones Park. There are numerous claims made for it including: it is a thousand years old; it was the site of a Medieval Hundred Court; it was split by an explosion out on the Mersey; it was used as a symbolic message of hope during the Second World War.

As they age and get larger they are in danger of being blown down in strong winds. To counter this, many trees species will ‘hollow out’. This means they rot on the inside to form a strong, tubular trunk, that can better withstand battering from gales.

Hollowing is not a problem for the tree, as the living part is always in the outer layers, just below the bark. The inside wood of a tree the ‘heart wood’ is always inert, effectively dead. But losing the heartwood means that it is hard to date there are no rings to count inside a hollow tree. It is certainly old, but perhaps not large enough yet to have grown for a...

Really? I got home and google asked me how was the Allerton Oak. It freaked me put a little. .. and I started wondering if google was a little psychic. Then I remembered I had left my location on after getting lost on the way to the vets on account of all the road closures which google is so good at picking up on and I'm not... until of course I get stuck in the gridlock of all the cars turning in the road as they remember they forgot to switch on their google maps too.

So anyway... Allerton Oak. It's just a tree in the middle of a park. Or is it? We know it used to be the Court House. What we're not told is that it was also the hanging tree. Seriously. I know this cos I'm a little psychic too... and if you don't believe me go and visit it after dark around All Hallows Eve while you're collecting sweet chestnuts for your Guy...

I 😘 ve it here. The Allerton Oak is very mystical and magical. Each year it's centre and trunk becomes more hollow. Yet, it is still strong and healthy - and still standing.

It has the most incredible atmosphere, especially at Dusk, when there are swirling mists surrounding it. Or, when the moon and stars shine through it.

If the 'little people' leapt out, I would not be surprised, as there is a strong presence! It lives in Calderstones Park, which is beautiful - though smaller than Sefton Park - and well...