Memorial

Verdun Oak

Bench August 2026

Source: Copyright Mark Littler

1/8

Current Location

South side of the round pond, Kew Gardens, Kew Rd, Kew, Richmond Upon Thames, Greater London, England

TQ 189 769

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Type of Memorial: Avenue / Tree or grove
WMR Reference Number: 39910
Description: An oak tree grown from an acorn taken from the Verdun battlefield and planted in 1919. There was a dedicatory plaque placed at the base of the tree. The original tree was felled in 2013 after being damaged by a storm. This has been replaced by a sapling grafted from the original Verdun oak. A beautiful Hope and Remembrance bench has also been hewn and sculpted from the trunk of the original tree.
Inscription: Original Dedication Plaque: OURCUS PETRAEA/ "DURMAST" OR "SESSILE OAK"/ THIS TREE WAS GROWN FROM AN ACORN COLLECTED ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF/ VERDUN, FRANCE 1917, AND PLANTED ON ITS PRESENT SITE IN JANUARY/ 1919. THE TEMPLE OF ARETHUSA CONTAINS PLAQUES COMMEMORATING/ STAFF OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN/ THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS.// Bench 2018 Side 1: THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD, AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD: AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM , NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING. WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM. Laurence Binyon, 1914// Bench 2018 Side 2: For Ginny - Rest in Peace/ WHEN WE PLANT TREES, WE PLANT THE SEEDS OF PEACE AND HOPE. Wangan Maathai, 2004/ This bench was made from using timber from the Verdun Oak (1919 2013). This tree grew from an acorn collected from the Verdun battlefield in 1917./ Unveiled 8 November 2018

Maker(s): Simon Burvill, Gaze Burvill, Designer
Maintenance History: The original tree was felled in 2013 after being damaged by a storm. This has been replaced by a sapling grafted from the original Verdun oak.