Abbey - Oak
Quercus robur
Standing with quiet dignity in Wymondham Abbey churchyard, the "Millennium Oak" is a living symbol of endurance and longevity. Grown from an acorn gathered in nearby Kimberley Park and planted in March 2000, it already shows the sturdy grace for which the English Oak is so beloved.
The Oak is among the most iconic native trees of the British Isles, deeply rooted in both landscape and imagination. Sacred to the Celtic god Dagda and revered by druids as a symbol of wisdom and strength, it has also long served practical needs - its timber for homes and ships, its bark for tanning, and its acorns for livestock. Today, its image endures in emblems such as those of the Woodland Trust and National Trust.
In Norfolk, the Oak holds added meaning through its link to Kett’s Rebellion of 1549, when William Kett was executed at this abbey. The Millennium Oak thus stands as both a marker of time and a quiet memorial to resilience - of nature, community, and history.