The English Oak of Lanaken

Laureate Tree of the Year 2022 (second place)

The tree is 31 meters high, has 8 trunks and has a total circumference of 830 cm.

On the site of the former Centre for Child Care and Family Support (CKG) Molenberg, there are some impressive pedunculate oak stoves on the central lawn. They are the oldest and largest coppice stoves in the region. This tree has a trunk circumference of no less than 8.3 meters.
The Molenberg site is known as a former colony for sick children, who could enjoy the pure air to regain their strength. The site is therefore surrounded by valuable natural areas, which today enjoy European protection. In 2007, the Flemish government purchased the domain, after which various parties were actively approached for a possible interpretation of public utility, such as ecotourism, reflection or nature research. None of the parties turned out to be a candidate because of the limitations due to the location and the high renovation costs. In 2019, the Agency for Nature and Forests demolished the buildings to make way for more nature. In the meantime, the CKG Molenberg has found a new location in Bilzen.

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