Could Ickworth's oldest oak up be UK's tree of the year?

The Tea Party Oak at Ickworth Park near Bury St Edmunds is one of 12 nominees battling it out for the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year accolade.

It is more than 700 years old - so it was already about 500 years old when work started on building Ickworth House in 1795.

It is near the overflow car park for the estate and park staff are expecting considerable interest in it now that the nominations have been published.

Dee Gathorne-Hardy is lead ranger at Ickworth Park and said the tree had already had a long and eventful life before the house was built.

"It is in decline now - but it has many more years ahead of it so long as the conditions are right.

"Before the estate was created people had harvested it over the  years. It had been pollarded over the years and that was probably what ensured it stayed in good condition and is still here today."

Over the years the oak became a favourite place for people from the nearby village of Horringer to meet and have picnics - and that is how it gained its name.

The tree has been at Ickworth 500 years longer than the house! (Image: ©National Trust Images/James Dobson)

Mr Gathorne-Hardy added: "It is the oldest tree on the estate although we have about 240 trees here between 450 and 700 years old.

"We have to take care off it. That is why it is fenced off. And we have to make sure that the ground isn't too compacted and that it gets enough water.

"But in theory if we do all that there is no reason why it shouldn't carry on living indefinitely."

Ickworth House was completed 200 years ago. (Image: Paul Geater)

The Ickworth Estate was created by the Earls of Bristol in the 18th century with the iconic house built between 1795 and 1821.

It was completed by the 1st Marquess of Bristol - the son of the earl who had first had the vision of an Italianate palace in the Suffolk countryside.