A new tree has been planted in Kendal in memory of William Shakespeare.
An oak tree - known locally as ‘Shakespeare’s Oak’, was planted in 1864 on Low Tenter Fell, to mark the 300th anniversary of the playwright’s birth.
It grew to 60 feet tall, but in 2009 it was cut down after it became diseased and began to die.
A replacement was planted by South Lakeland District Council at that time, a short distance away on Kendal Green.
But now, to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, a new oak has been planted on the original site.
Graham Nicholson, SLDC’s arboriculturalist, explained that it wasn’t possible to plant the 2009 replacement in exactly the same spot as the 1864 original because the land may have been affected by the original oak’s fungal disease.
Seven years later however, tests have shown the area to be free of disease so the site can be used for planting again.
He said: “Kendal Town Council donated the tree and it was planted on 19 May. SLDC owns the land so we gave permission for the tree to be planted and we also helped the town council to source a suitable tree and arranged for contractors to prepare the site.’’
The new ‘Shakespeare’s Oak’ was planted last week by Councillor Chris Hogg, SLDC’s portfolio holder for Culture and Wellbeing, in his final duty in his town council capacity as Kendal Mayor, assisted by staff from Horticare, the horticultural unit in Kendal run by Cumbria County Council for people with learning disabilities.
Councillor Hogg said: “It is lovely to see a new oak tree on the exact spot of the 1864 original and it is a fitting way for us to mark this year’s 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and the association with Kendal Green."