Measures in place to protect historic oak tree

Measures have been put in place to protect an oak tree in Lincolnshire thought to date back to the time of Sir Isaac Newton, who lived nearby.

South Kesteven District Council said the tree in Manthorpe, near Grantham, had suffered significant soil compaction, with ropes being hung from its branches for children to play.

The authority said it had installed new wooden fencing to limit public access as a way of protecting the tree and to keep the surrounding area safe for the public.

A spokesperson said the "minimal intervention" would deliver the maximum benefits for wildlife, and help to conserve the oak for future generations.

Cabinet member for environment, councillor Rhys Baker, said: "This is one of the area's most notable trees and is recorded on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory."

He added: "The restriction of access around the tree will also improve the rooting environment and help conserve this historic feature."

Dr Kate Lewthwaite, citizen science manager at the Woodland Trust, said a historic map of Grantham recorded the oak being in place from the 1800s.

"We know it is at least 200 years old, probably 300 years, as it would need to have been of a significant size to be mapped at that time."

She said the protective measures the council had put in place meant it was more likely to continue to grow to "a great age" and remain in good condition.

"This is a win for both people and nature."

The Woodland Trust said native oak trees were known to support up to 2,300 different species, with 326 of these fully dependent on oak for survival.

Sir Isaac Newton was born at nearby Woolsthorpe Manor in 1642.

It is claimed that while in the garden he observed an apple falling from a tree that led to him thinking about the theory of gravity, which he described in his 1687 book Principia.

He died, aged 84, in 1727.

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