Monday, October 12, 2020

The Witness Tree planted by King George VI

 A friend of mine who lives near Fort Hunt Park in Alexandra spotted the marker (with brochures) for the Witness Tree, planted by King George VI in 1939, and got me the brochure.  We went to see the tree on Saturday.  The day was overcast.  




Me leaning up against a tree planted by King George VI in 1939

This is the tree planted by King George VI 



5 comments:

BlueSaphire70 said...

This is so interesting! I wish they would stop cutting so many trees around my neighborhood, only to build huge and hideous storage facilities. They're not needed, there are plenty already built and standing empty, but the developers don't care. It breaks my heart to see them cut the beautiful trees with impunity. The article doesn't say for sure, but maybe they started a replanting scheme in the UK after the King's visit. I hope they did!

diddleymaz said...

Why is it called a witness tree? I am not familiar with the term.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/witness-trees#:~:text=Witness%20trees%20are%20those%20flora,massive%2C%20silent%20sentinels%20of%20history.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Blue saphire. Not sure what your comment has to do with my blog post. The tree is in Alexandria, VA, and planted by the King in 1939

BlueSaphire70 said...

Well, I guess reading the brochure about the program they had of conservation and reforestation got me thinking of what I see around my neighborhood and the need to plant trees. As I understand it, the tree the King planted was to commemorate his visit to the men who participated in the CCC program. That program was run by the Park Service and the Forest Service. The idea was to provide jobs for the men and it said that it was an something they might bring to the UK as well. The King was a great nature lover and he was also keen not to disappoint "the boys" as it says in the brochure. I don't know if it had anything to do with your blog, but I think my comment had to do with the content of the brochure. Sorry if it was inappropriate!