Old Knobbley

21/06/2025

I'm on the trail! Come and share your old tree stories with my biographer today. She'll be at Old Knobbley.

21/03/2024

Oh Wow! I was mentioned on The Chase ITVX

Thanks to Keith Stretch Crow for sharing this with me!

24/01/2024

I've been podcasted! Well my biographer and some lovely passing walkers were interviewed by Oliver from World Radio Gardening. Listen here:

FrontOnly Great Tree Beauties Trees Great Tree Beauties 2: Old Knobbley in Mistley An ancient oak tree believed to date back 800 years in Essex Oliver Rogers January 21, 2024 2 min read This fabulous grand oak tree came second to the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest in 2014 as one of England’s finest ...

17/12/2023

Last minute book signing for Christmas presents. Still not too late to order a copy! https://oldknobbley.com/old-knobbleys-biography/ or you can purchase locally (details in the link).

16/06/2023

Oooh I wonder who will be passing by?
https://www.harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk/news/23588787.join-cosplayers-super-5k-charity-walk-mistley-manningtree/
16th July 11am start. Check out Autism Anglia (https://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/Event/cosplay-5k) for details about how to join in!

FROM Batman to Harley Quinn, Darth Vader to Deadpool, villagers are sure to spot some familiar faces at Autism Anglia’s Cosplay5k walk this summer.

03/06/2023

loads more photos of the pram race

25/05/2023

🏁🏁🏁Who’s ready to race around Furze Hill?!

Get ready to be put through your paces as you and your ‘baby’ charge around the woods with 8 well earned pub stops along the way 🍻

As well as hydrating with a cheeky half at Estuarywinebar, Mistley Rugby Club and The Blacksmith, you’ll get to take a selfie on the throne, shoot some hoops and stop by Mistley‘s oldest and most distinguished resident Old Knobbley, before slip n sliding over the finishing line…! 🏆

Up for the challenge? 🙌🏽

Grab a pram and a partner, and email [email protected] or DM us to enter 📧

📍Bank hol Mon 29th, Furze Hill, Mistley









Mistley Parish Council

23/04/2023

The brilliant TazzyBro Photography

Enchanting Old Boy (Mistley) 🌳

Went for a super early stroll down Furze Hills this morning and wow, that fog was thick, so atmospheric! Mr Knobbley really is an Enchanting old boy isn't he!

26/03/2023

I wanted to share something from a visitor that I had to the shop recently - it just struck me as such a wonderful Idea that I thought some of you may benefit:
At Christmas time this lady purchased 'The Christmas List', a book set around Mistley and Manningtree. She added to the book by enclosing pictures of her children and grandchildren in the locations that are featured in the book. She also has a copy of our 'Old Knobbley' book - about an 800-year old tree growing in Mistley. She has carefully collected and pressed some oak leaves from Old Knobbley to enclose within the pages. But she had also planted some fallen acorns from old Knobbley which she has nurtured so she will pass the book on with 'baby' Old Knobbleys. What a fantastic legacy!

01/12/2022

Thrilled that my biography is now in the beautiful NaviStitch shop in Manningtree. Just in time for Christmas!

To find a stockist near you see: https://oldknobbley.com/old-knobbleys-biography/

Old Knobbley’s Book Scroll Down Old Knobbley’s biography is the form of a beautifully illustrated children’s book. The 54 page full colour paperback book follows Old Knobbley’s life from acorn to ancient, 800 year old, oak tree. It helps children connect history with nature and to understand...

11/11/2022

I love it when things like this happen. Last year, at about this time, Tim, in Scotland was volunteering in a community project in Perthshire, A friend there, Nick, was telling him how he used to climb on an old oak tree as a child in Essex about 70 years ago. Nick knew the tree 'old thumb' because it had a thumblike stump. But he said it is now called Old Knobbley and there was a book about it. Tim purchased some copies of my biography and sent one to his niece, who then visited me during the Christmas hols with her children! Her children then sent this note and photos back to Tim...

Dear Tim,
We are just on our way home after going to visit OK on the last day of our Christmas holiday. He did not disappoint! Set in the beautiful woods above and behind Mistley, he can be found by following a wooden fitness trail.
He looked so wise and serene, but with no fancy plaque or rope around him.
We gave him a hug and admired his beauty.
Thank you for introducing us to him!
Lots of love,
O, J and W
X###

Photos used with permission and much gratitude.

Lovley, eh?

If you would like to help inspire a new generation of nature and tree guardians, maybe, just maybe, my biography, in the form of a children's book, will help: https://oldknobbley.com/old-knobbleys-biography/