Quercus robur (English Oak), England

Recorded by Stu Guffogg, this recording is of an English Oak in the grounds of Lytham Hall, Lytham, Lancashire, UK. Recorded April 2025. The recording was made on an early spring morning – sunny, but with a strong breeze, using Jez Riley French contact and ecoutic microphones. What you can hear is the rumble of the wind against the trunk, near the base of the tree where time has exposed some of the internal structure of the trunk. The audio has been processed slightly with some compression and EQ, to balance low end rumble and bring forward some of the more subtle sounds.

Quercus rober (English Oak), England. Photo by Stu Guffogg.

400 year old English Oak, Lytham Hall, Lytham, Lancashire, UK. Images: Stu Guffogg

This particular specimen of English Oak is, according to staff at the hall, approximately 400 years old and predates the hall by some years. It is around 40 feet tall, with an equivalent spread. It was thinned last year, when around 7 tons of wood was removed! Although there are other Oaks in the grounds of the hall, this is the only English Oak of any age at the site (I believe there have recently been new saplings planted there though). The site is also known for its collection of Redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens).

Stu Guffogg’s online
Hear more of Stu Guffogg’s work here