Big Dead Burr Oak

Big Dead Burr Oak

   The very large Burr Oak that stood at the Tenhave Woods Lexington turnstile, began failing in 2014. We watched each year as fewer branches leafed out, until it was dead by 2018. The city planned to have it cut down but Tree First, the arborists who are on the Nature Society’s board, said we should leave it standing as dead trees are as important to wildlife as the living trees are. They did a risk assessment in 2019 and trimmed the branches. The dead oak was left standing. A second risk assessment was done a couple of years ago, but the city became nervous and made the decision to have it removed. We asked if the stump could be left so we could continue to use it for nature programs.  They agreed. The remaining stump is 4 ½ feet tall and 52 inches in diameter. From observation, we could see that many years ago the tree had been hit by lightning but healed. We believed it was hollow and therefore we would not be able to count the rings to see how old it was. On September 2, 2025, it was cut down. We estimate it weighed over 40,000 pounds! We were surprised to see that the hollow was only about an inch wide, and the center was still visible. Our count of the rings came to 201 years at the top of its stump. Add the seven years since it died, brings it age at the top of its stump to 208 years which would have been the year 1817. That was the year Royal Oak Township began being surveyed.  This survey had to be completed before property could be sold. We can only guess how many years it took from a sprouting acorn to reach the 4 ½ feet tall to match the top of its stump. We know it was growing before the 1817 survey began and when the first settlers began to arrive. “Our old friend” began its life in the untouched wilderness of what was to become Royal Oak.