# Capon Tree

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Old tree near Jedburgh, Scotland

Capon Oak Tree The Capon Tree in 2009 Interactive map of Capon Oak Tree Species Sessile Oak[1] (Quercus petraea) Location Jedforest, Scottish Borders Girth ~10 metres

The **Capon Oak Tree** is one of the last surviving trees of the ancient Scottish [Jedforest](/source/Jedforest). It is close to the [A68](/source/A68_road) and [Jed Water](/source/Jed_Water), a small river which has cut a course below soft [sandstone](/source/Sandstone) cliffs. The [Sessile Oak](/source/Quercus_petraea) tree was said to be in the top fifty trees in the UK in 2002 and in the top 10 in 2024.

## Description

The Jedburgh Callant receiving his sprig in 2023

It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) south of [Jedburgh](/source/Jedburgh), Scotland, west of the [A68](/source/A68_road). The Capon Tree is held together with [concrete](/source/Concrete), [bricks](/source/Brick) and timber beams supporting its [trunk](/source/Trunk_(botany)) and [branches](/source/Branches) due to a massive split down the middle of the trunk.[2] The tree's trunk is about ten metres in diameter[3] and it continued to grow in 2022.[4] The tree is estimated to be about 1,000 years old and it may have survived being felled because of its distorted shape making its wood useless for making ships. In 2002 grants were given to enable work to extend its life. It is an important icon and for 75 years the tree is visited annually during the annual [Jethart Callant's Festival](/source/Jethart_Callant's_Festival) where the Callant is decorated with a sprig from the Capon tree.[4] The Capon Tree was one of the 50 [Great British Trees](/source/List_of_Great_British_Trees) selected by [The Tree Council](/source/The_Tree_Council) in 2002 the year of [the Queen's Golden Jubilee](/source/Golden_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II)[5] and in 2024 it was in the short list for "Tree of the Year".[6]

Trees are being replanted in the Borders to establish a renewal of the ancient 'Caledon Wood,' or great northern forest, which included [Ettrick Forest](/source/Ettrick_Forest) and [Jedforest](/source/Jedforest).[7]

## See also

- [List of Great British Trees](/source/List_of_Great_British_Trees)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Woodland Trust | Recording | Tree details"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110723234815/http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/tree.htm?tree=9a412562-fc3b-48d2-95f1-bcf46dca1b42). 2011-07-23. Archived from [the original](http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/tree.htm?tree=9a412562-fc3b-48d2-95f1-bcf46dca1b42) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2024-10-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Capon Tree"](https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/tree?treeid=5320). *Ancient Tree Inventory*. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Veteran trees"](http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/heritagemanagement/woodpasture/Veterantrees.asp).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-srep_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-srep_4-1) Kelly, Paul (2002). ["A 1,000-year-old Jedburgh tree is tougher than the rest"](https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/a-1000-year-old-jedburgh-tree-is-tougher-than-the-rest-3543636). *Southern Reporter*. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TTC-2002_5-0)** ["Fifty Great Trees for Fifty Great Years"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030106150322/http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/tws/GBTPress%20Release.htm). [The Tree Council](/source/The_Tree_Council). Archived from [the original](http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/tws/GBTPress%20Release.htm) on 6 January 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Trust, Woodland. ["Tree of the Year"](https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/tree-of-the-year/). *Woodland Trust*. Retrieved 2024-10-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Crumley, Jim (2011), *The Great Wood : the Ancient Forest of Caledon*, Birlinn, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85790-090-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85790-090-6)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Capon Tree](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Capon_Tree).

- [Recorded information about the Capon Oak on the Ancient Tree Hunt](https://web.archive.org/web/20110723234815/http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/tree.htm?tree=9a412562-fc3b-48d2-95f1-bcf46dca1b42)

- [Jedburgh.org](http://www.jedburgh.org.uk/attraction-the-capon-tree)

- [SNH](https://web.archive.org/web/20150221031203/http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/heritagemanagement/woodpasture/Veterantrees.asp)

[55°27′44″N 2°33′17″W / 55.46219°N 2.554628°W / 55.46219; -2.554628](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Capon_Tree&params=55.46219_N_2.554628_W_region:GB_type:landmark)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Capon Tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capon_Tree) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capon_Tree?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.