A friend who lives near Fort Hunt Park in Alexandra spotted the marker (with brochures) for the Witness Tree, planted by Sir Richard St Barbe Baker shortly after the King and Queen's visit to Fort Hunt on June 9, 1939. King George VI in 1939, got me the brochure. We went to see the tree on Saturday. The day was overcast.
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| Me leaning up against a tree planted in honor of King George VI visit in 1939 |
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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!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it called a witness tree? I am not familiar with the term.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/witness-trees#:~:text=Witness%20trees%20are%20those%20flora,massive%2C%20silent%20sentinels%20of%20history.
ReplyDeleteBlue 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
ReplyDeleteWell, 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!
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