Windsor Great Park walk: types of oak tree: there are more than I thought!

As I had planned I did venture into Windsor Great Park, and it was a bleak experience over half term - a very chilly day. Eventually I did come across something interesting - the Queen's collection of oak trees, given to her by the countries of the Commonwealth on the occasion of her Coronation or marriage - can't remember which, and I can't find any reference to this collection online. There are of course, more countries in the Commonwealth than there are types of oak tree. (- Post script - this isn't' true. There are more than 600 types of oak tree in the world! But some of them come from Mexico, China and South America and perhaps they don't grow in a temperate climate.) So you can see below that there is a variety of trees but some of them are duplicated 2 or 3 times by different donors.

 Here is a sample of the labels. In the summer and autumn it will be fun to see all the different leaves.

Virginia Water, Surrey

Virginia Water is, I think, owned by the Queen, but she sticks to Windsor Great Park and the rest of us walk and run and in places, cycle, in Virginia Water, where there are two very fine gardens, the Valley Gardens and the Savill Gardens. When I go with my friend Amanda we talk pretty continually because we both teach English as a Foreign Language, and have children the same age, and there is usually something to discuss.  But when I go on my own I take loads of photos.

Virginia Water, October

Mahonia in flower

autumnal Mahonia. Very strange. These lovely Mahonias very right next to each other, doing very different things.

Virgina Water, a running club

Valley Gardens, Viginia Water

A young couple showing their children how they loved the giant redwood. I took pics for them as well.

A brilliant yoga pose, with camera