The Suffrage Oak

The Suffrage Oak is a Hungarian oak tree (Quercus frainetto) in Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, planted in 1918. It was named Scotland's Tree of the Year in 2015.[1][2]

The Suffrage Oak
The Suffrage Oak in 2019 following its damage from Storm Ophelia
The Suffrage Oak is located in Central Glasgow
The Suffrage Oak
The Suffrage Oak
Glasgow, Scotland
SpeciesHungarian oak (Quercus frainetto)
Coordinates55.8716°N 4.2854°W / 55.8716; -4.2854

History

The tree was planted in Kelvingrove Park by Louisa Lumsden[3] on behalf of suffrage organisations on 20 April 1918 to commemorate the right to vote being granted to some women in February 1918.[4][5] Eunice Murray was the 'commemoration orator' at the event.[6]

The Sunday Post reported on the event as follows:

A ceremony that was probably unique in the annals of the votes for women campaign took place this afternoon in Kelvingrove Park, where a young oak tree was planted by representatives of the Glasgow Women's Suffrage Societies, in commemoration of the passing of the Representation of the People Act. There was a goodly gathering of ladies, many of whom wore the tricolour and other sashes associated with the different Suffrage Societies.

Miss Frances Melville, who presided, described the granting of the vote to women as the most important change that had taken place in the long and chequered history the British Constitution

Miss Louisa Lumsden, L.L.D., who planted the tree, referred to the noble work of the pioneers of the movement, and pleaded for the setting aside of any narrowness, pettiness, class feeling, and prejudice in connection with the consideration of political and other questions.

— Various, Sunday Post 21 April 1918

Recent history
The Suffrage Oak in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow

In October 2017 the tree lost around 30 per cent of its canopy during Storm Ophelia and suffered a large tear to its trunk. To save the tree and protect the public, Glasgow City Council had to reduce its height and rebalance the canopy.[7] The off-cuts were gifted to the Glasgow Women's Library to create items for sale that celebrate the efforts of the suffragettes.[7] These subsequently became earrings,[8] chopping boards,[9] coasters, magnets and trinket boxes, made by local artist Annie Graham.[10]

Recognition

On International Women's Day in 1995, the Women's Committee of Glasgow City Council erected a plaque next beside the tree which reads, ‘This oak tree was planted by Women's Suffrage Organisations in Glasgow on 20 April 1918 to commemorate the granting of votes to women.'[11]

In 2015 the tree was named Scotland's Tree of the Year by the Woodland Trust after being nominated by Glasgow Women's Library.[2] The award was presented to representatives from Glasgow Women's Library at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on 27 October 2015.[12]

The Woodland Trust nominated the Suffrage Oak for the 2016 European Tree of the Year award.[13]

See also

References
  1. "European Tree of the Year". www.treeoftheyear.org. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. "Suffragette Oak is tree of the year". BBC News. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  3. "Roll of honour: Ten Scottish women who fought for the right to vote". The National. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. "Suffragette Oak is Scotland's Tree of the Year". Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  5. "GLASGOW WOMEN AND THE VOTE. COMMEMORATION TREE PLANTED". Sunday Post. 12 April 1918.
  6. Crawford, Elizabeth (2001). The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866-1928. London: Routledge. p. 432.
  7. "Pieces of historic Suffragette Oak tree will help raise funds for Glasgow Women's Library". The National. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. "Glasgow Women's Library on Instagram: "🎄 Day 10 of The 12 Days of GWL Christmas🎄 Suffrage Oak Earrings £10 From Small Acorns… We are proud to launch a truly special range of new merchandise designed and created by Glasgow based artist Annie Graham made from wood from the Glasgow Suffrage Oak. These items are limited editions, and include chopping boards, book marks, earrings and keyrings and are only available to purchase from the Glasgow Women's Library shop. The Suffrage Oak was planted on Kelvin Way in Glasgow's West End by Louisa Lumsden on behalf of Suffrage organisations on 20 April 1918, to commemorate the right to vote being granted to some women in February 1918, after decades of determined campaigning. On International Women's Day 1995, the Women's Committee of Glasgow City Council erected a plaque beside the tree which acknowledge its history. In 2015 GWL nominated the Suffrage Oak to be named Scotland's Tree of the Year in an annual national competition run by the Woodland Trust. The Suffrage Oak won, and the award was presented to representatives from Glasgow Women's Library at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on 27 October 2015. In October 2017 the Suffrage Oak was badly damaged by Storm Ophelia, losing around 30% of its canopy and suffering a large tear to its trunk. To save the tree, and protect the public, Glasgow City Council Tree Surgeons worked to reduce its height and rebalance the canopy. The tree's survival was touch and go. Glasgow Women's Library requested the resulting oak off-cuts, left them to season, and vowed to make them into beautiful and enduring objects that would both celebrate Suffrage campaigners and support its own work as the UK's sole Accredited Museum dedicated to women's history. Visit our shop & support a unique charity whilst giving something different, special, ethical & unique this Christmas. You can visit Glasgow Women's Library until Wednesday 21st December at 4.30pm. #UnwrapArt #GWLChristmas #FeministGifts #herstory #WomensHistory #advent"". Instagram. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  9. "Glasgow Women's Library on Instagram: "🎄 Day 11 of The 12 Days of GWL Christmas🎄 Suffrage Oak & Resin Charcuterie Boards £60 (only 6 will ever be made) From Small Acorns… We are proud to launch a truly special range of new merchandise designed and created by Glasgow based artist Annie Graham made from wood from the Glasgow Suffrage Oak. These items are limited editions, and include chopping boards, book marks, earrings and keyrings and are only available to purchase from the Glasgow Women's Library shop. The Suffrage Oak was planted on Kelvin Way in Glasgow's West End by Louisa Lumsden on behalf of Suffrage organisations on 20 April 1918, to commemorate the right to vote being granted to some women in February 1918, after decades of determined campaigning. On International Women's Day 1995, the Women's Committee of Glasgow City Council erected a plaque beside the tree which acknowledge its history. In 2015 GWL nominated the Suffrage Oak to be named Scotland's Tree of the Year in an annual national competition run by the Woodland Trust. The Suffrage Oak won, and the award was presented to representatives from Glasgow Women's Library at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on 27 October 2015. In October 2017 the Suffrage Oak was badly damaged by Storm Ophelia, losing around 30% of its canopy and suffering a large tear to its trunk. To save the tree, and protect the public, Glasgow City Council Tree Surgeons worked to reduce its height and rebalance the canopy. The tree's survival was touch and go. Glasgow Women's Library requested the resulting oak off-cuts, left them to season, and vowed to make them into beautiful and enduring objects that would both celebrate Suffrage campaigners and support its own work as the UK's sole Accredited Museum dedicated to women's history. Visit our shop & support a unique charity whilst giving something different, special, ethical & unique this Christmas. You can visit Glasgow Women's Library until Wednesday 21st December at 4.30pm. #UnwrapArt #GWLChristmas #FeministGifts #herstory #WomensHistory #advent"". Instagram. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  10. "Glasgow Women's Library on Instagram: "New Suffrage Oak Merch Alert! We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Glasgow School of Art graduate, Annie Graham (MLitt Sculpture), Winner of the 2021 Sustainability Degree Show Prize who has created this limited range of products that are inspired by and use wood from the Suffrage Oak. Coasters (set of 5): £30 Trinket boxes: Small £25 Medium £30 Large £35 Fridge Magnets: £5 Here is the Suffrage Oak story, in three chapters. Here is the Suffrage Oak story, in three chapters: (i) The Suffrage Oak was planted on Kelvin Way in Glasgow's West End by Louisa Lumsden on behalf of Suffrage organisations on 20 April 1918, to commemorate the right to vote being granted to some women in February 1918, after decades of determined campaigning. On International Women's Day 1995, the Women's Committee of Glasgow City Council erected a plaque beside the tree which acknowledge its history. (ii) In 2015 Glasgow Women's Library nominated the Suffrage Oak to be named Scotland's Tree of the Year in an annual national competition run by the Woodland Trust. The Suffrage Oak won, and the award was presented to representatives from Glasgow Women's Library at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on 27 October 2015. (iii) In October 2017 the Suffrage Oak was badly damaged by Storm Ophelia, losing around 30% of its canopy and suffering a large tear to its trunk. To save the tree, and protect the public, Glasgow City Council Tree Surgeons worked to reduce its height and rebalance the canopy. The tree's survival was touch and go. Glasgow Women's Library requested the resulting oak off-cuts, left them to season, and vowed to make them into beautiful and enduring objects that would both celebrate Suffrage campaigners and support its own work as the UK's sole Accredited Museum dedicated to women's history."". Instagram. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  11. "The Suffrage Oak: Marking 100 Years of Women 'Living and Growing' into the Body Politic – Women's History Scotland". Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. Gillett, Karrie (28 October 2015). "Century-old Glasgow oak tree hailed as Scottish 'tree of the year'". scotlandnow. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  13. "European Tree of the Year". www.treeoftheyear.org. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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