New Releases

Radiohead’s The King of Limbs Tree. Yes, It’s a Real Tree.

1 year ago by Alan Cross | February 16, 2011 10:56 am

The title of the new album (due for download on Saturday) was inspired by an actual 1,000 oak tree in Savernake Forest in Wiltshire, about five kilometres from Tottenham House, the place where Radiohead recorded In Rainbows.

This will surely set off the greatest tree hunt since U2 posted in front of a lonely joshua tree in December 1986.  While U2 tried to keep the location of the tree a secret (they didn’t want souvenir hunters breaking off bits to take home), it was eventually outed.  Fortunately, the site was treated with a substantial amount of reverence.  Then the tree died and fell down.  Natural causes, apparently.  (More details on The Joshua Tree tree here.  And there’s no hiding from Google Earth, anyway.)

Let’s hope that Radiohead fans treat the original King of Limbs with the same respect.  No one need take a branch or carve their initals into it just because a rock band decided to be inspired by its leafy goodness.  After all, the thing pre-dates the Magna Carta.  Henry VIII used to hunt here.  Fortunately, it’s located in the only privately-owned forest in all of Britain so it should be well-protected. 

Anyone find a Google Earth shot yet?

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  • Pete
    February 16, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    No google earth shot found yet (forest looks too indistinguishable from above), but found a shot of the tree itself:

    http://www.swindon-birds.co.uk/savernakeforest.html
    (3rd picture down, with caption)

    The map at the bottom shows a “King Oak” – not sure if that is the same thing.

    (Reply)
  • Tom Davenport
    February 16, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    I went the day I heard about it and couldn’t find it. Next morning I found it after getting a cryptic tip off from a local source. The tree is incredible, but almost inaccessible. I grew up playing in this forest and had only heard about the tree in stories. I’ll be putting the video on my site when I edit it.

    I also spoke to a forest warden who is very concerned about the risks of Radiohead fans damaging the woods while trying to find it. Locals will likely become concerned about this fact too – the tree is said to be older than England itself, and any damage would be a real disgrace. If anyone is really that bothered, please feel free to contact me to take a safe route without having to hack your way through.

    (Reply)
    • Jo
      February 18, 2011 at 5:15 pm

      Hi, my boyfriend and I are keen to visit the tree and some others in the forest but this new Radiohead album is mkaing it more difficult to find the information on the internet! Could you contact me with a way through? thanks!

      (Reply)
      • Tom Davenport
        February 21, 2011 at 7:25 am

        Yeah, you and every other radiohead fan! Contact me through my site tomdavenport.co.uk

        (Reply)

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  • Alejo
    March 7, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    wow nice story… it wi be great walking around those living ancients….(from colombia)

    (Reply)

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