Oaks are a big deal in Estonia. We have already reported on the oak standing in a stadium in Orisaree that stood up to Stalin and won the European Tree of the Year contest in 2015. This year sees the country’s Centenary, marking 100 years since independence was declared in February 1918. As part of the celebrations organized under the Estonia 100 program, the Estonia 100 oaks project will involve children creating oak groves in parks across Estonia, planting seedlings they have grown themselves. To honor Estonia’s centenary, we chose as subject for this article in our series on Historic Oaks, Estonia’s largest, oldest, and most famous oak: the Tamme-Lauri Oak.
At the recreation site there is the biggest (trunk circumference 8.5 m at the height of 1.3 m) and oldest tree in Estonia. In 1998 its age was measured to be 680 years, using the increment boring method.
Before going on a nature walk please read the Environmental code of conduct (freedom to roam). Access is kept snowfree (after heavy snowfall not immediately).