TheBig Belly Oak (also known as TheBig Bellied Oak) is an ancientoak tree in theSavernake Forest in Wiltshire, England. The Big Belly Oak is the oldest oak in the Savernake Forest; it was planted around the year 1000, making it approximately 1,000 years old.[1] It would have been a young tree at around the time thatWilliam the Conqueror defeatedKing Harold in 1066.[2] As part ofQueen Elizabeth II’sGolden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, the Big Belly Oak was named as one of 50Great British Trees, a collection of significant trees in the United Kingdom.
The Big Belly Oak is asessile oak tree (Quercus petraea). It is enormously fat, with a maximum girth of 11.18 metres at a height of 1.20m.[3] Its estimated volume is 40m³.[1] The oak has a large cavity in its centre, likely an effect ofpollarding. In 2014, the Big Belly Oak was shortlisted forTree of the Year in the annual competition held by theWoodland Trust.[3]
The Big Belly Oak grows by the side of theA346 road betweenMarlborough andBurbage.[2] It is one of many ancient oak trees in the Savernake Forest, including the New Queen Oak, the Queen Oak, the Saddle Oak 1, the Spider Oak;[4] the Cathedral Oak, and the King of Limbs.[5]