THERE is a small addition to People’s Park in Crediton, one that although about five years old already has a history.

It is a "child" of the Lucombe Oak at the Church Street entrance to Newcombes Meadow in Crediton. This tree was well pruned last year, to the consternation of a number of people.

There had been fears the tree was to be cut down, or at least so extremely pruned that it might not recover. But none of that happened and the Newcombes Meadow tree is beginning to sprout again.

Shortly before this tree was cut back, the new tree was spotted by Loo Brown and dug out by Paula Kovacs.

Paula explained: "A few of us undertook to rescue a small sapling growing beside the magnificent old Lucombe Oak.

"I have taken responsibility for her, known as Vita, keeping it in a pot on my patio for several months. We are so grateful that Crediton Town Council has allowed it to be planted on People’s Park, which is owned by that council."

Ross Andrews of Urban and Rural Tree Services planted the little tree and put up an oak frame tree guard around it.

He said the tree would have grown from an acorn from the original tree. He added that the Lucombe Oak was created in Exeter by William Lucombe a nurseryman in St Thomas, Exeter in the mid-1770’s.

William had noticed that one of his Turkey Oak saplings was non-deciduous and discovered it was a cross between a Turkey Oak and a Cork Oak. It was a natural hybrid.

The Lucombe Oak is one of the heritage trees at Kew Gardens. What would be interesting would to be find out why the tree was planted at Crediton and when.

The new tree will have a plaque to explain its background.

Sue Read