オールドボルソーバーの天然記念物・トップ8

Take the mtb route up/down through the wood to the North East of the statue, look out for it near the bench on the main gravel track

Feels other worldly, beautiful setting. Fascinating history.

It was just a small Sunday stroll but it was lovely. We parked our car at the garden centre which worth to going in too! There is a big farm shop which is lovely and not too expensive compared to if you want to get a quality product!

Like the Parliament Oak, this was one of the original boundary trees of the Clipstone Park, the royal hunting park attached to King John’s Palace, enclosed in 1180. It is thought that it gets its name from Church Oak as nonconformists used it as an outside meeting place.

The Parliament Oak is a veteran tree in Sherwood Forest. It is reputed to have been the site for impromptu-parliaments held by kings John and Edward I. The tree stood around 1.5 miles from King John's Palace at Clipstone. King John stayed at the palace from around the time of his 1199 accession for hunting in Clipstone Park, part of Sherwood Forest. Clipstone was one of the oldest parks in England, being enclosed for hunting since before the 1066 Norman Conquest. The Parliament Oak is thought to date from around this time, being of comparable age to the Major Oak, which has been estimated to be 800–1000 years old. It is said that John hastily assembled a parliament at the tree in 1212 upon being informed, whilst hunting, that revolts against his rule had broken out in Wales and Northern England. He is thought to have decreed that 28 Welsh boys held as hostages at Nottingham Castle were to be put to death as a consequence.

Didn't have my glasses so couldn't read the plaque

What a lovely place! Perfect spot for a picnic.

Sometimes it gets busy here but walkers usually walk on the big wide path, if you're on a bike consider taking the small narrow path nearer to the lakeside for a smoother and less interrupted ride through the park.