Norfolk How Hill 'Hitler's oak' Olympic gift saved

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25364423

Norfolk How Hill 'Hitler's oak' Olympic gift saved


An "historically significant" oak tree given to a 1936 Berlin Olympics gold medal winner by Adolf Hitler has been saved for future generations.

The "Hitler's oak" sapling was given to Norfolk helmsman Christopher Boardman, who planted it at his home in How Hill.

The How Hill Trust decided to pollard, or prune, the tree despite being told it was "unsafe" having never recovered from the 1987 Great Storm.

"It looks slightly odd, but it's done remarkably well," said a spokesman.

'Overtones of Hitler'

The oak saplings were given to all gold medal winners at the 1936 Olympics and received their nickname because of the Nazi leader's association with the Berlin Games.

Four came to the UK after the games to mark gold medals in yachting, double scull rowing, 4x400m relay athletics and 50km walk athletics.

Mr Boardman, who died in 1987, was the helmsman of the British yacht Lalage, which won the gold medal in the 6-metre class.

Simon Partridge, director of How Hill Trust, which now looks after the estate on the Norfolk Broads, said: "This tree is historically significant to the UK.

"Some people do think it's got the overtones of Hitler and the Nazis, but the Hitler oak originated from the '36 Olympics and that was prior to World War Two.

"The oak that came here was only one of four that came out of Berlin to Britain in '36 - it's the last one standing and it was in pretty poor condition."

Tree surgeon Ashley Clarke said the tree was pollarded in early summer and "looked pretty drastic" when the work was complete.

"It was worth putting the effort in to save something like this," he said.

"If it had been any other tree we'd have just felled it, but because of it's historical value we were determined to try save it.

"As soon as you cut the top of the tree it will go in to survival mode. Basically we're shocking back to life, that forms another canopy and if it's properly managed it should easily outlive us all."

(continued)

[JimC]

Hearts of oak are our volk...

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Should've pruned it to look like it was making a nazi salute.

[cronus]

Should've pruned it to look like it was making a nazi salute.

Now we know where the Tories dream up their economic policies.

[Audley Strange]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25364423

Norfolk How Hill 'Hitler's oak' Olympic gift saved


An "historically significant" oak tree given to a 1936 Berlin Olympics gold medal winner by Adolf Hitler has been saved for future generations.

The "Hitler's oak" sapling was given to Norfolk helmsman Christopher Boardman, who planted it at his home in How Hill.

The How Hill Trust decided to pollard, or prune, the tree despite being told it was "unsafe" having never recovered from the 1987 Great Storm.

"It looks slightly odd, but it's done remarkably well," said a spokesman.

'Overtones of Hitler'

The oak saplings were given to all gold medal winners at the 1936 Olympics and received their nickname because of the Nazi leader's association with the Berlin Games.

Four came to the UK after the games to mark gold medals in yachting, double scull rowing, 4x400m relay athletics and 50km walk athletics.

Mr Boardman, who died in 1987, was the helmsman of the British yacht Lalage, which won the gold medal in the 6-metre class.

Simon Partridge, director of How Hill Trust, which now looks after the estate on the Norfolk Broads, said: "This tree is historically significant to the UK.

"Some people do think it's got the overtones of Hitler and the Nazis, but the Hitler oak originated from the '36 Olympics and that was prior to World War Two.

"The oak that came here was only one of four that came out of Berlin to Britain in '36 - it's the last one standing and it was in pretty poor condition."

Tree surgeon Ashley Clarke said the tree was pollarded in early summer and "looked pretty drastic" when the work was complete.

"It was worth putting the effort in to save something like this," he said.

"If it had been any other tree we'd have just felled it, but because of it's historical value we were determined to try save it.

"As soon as you cut the top of the tree it will go in to survival mode. Basically we're shocking back to life, that forms another canopy and if it's properly managed it should easily outlive us all."

(continued)

That's possibly one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on the BBC site and I often read the insane comments.