London's Oldest Trees & First Virtual cache
READ THE LOGGING REQUIREMENTS BELOW VERY CAREFULLY. FAILURE TO LOG AS INDICATED MIGHT RESULT IN YOUR LOG BEING DELETED (This is NOT a 1D cache) There are THREE locations for this cache.
The Meeting Tree WHITE OAK
Designated in 2012, as London's first Heritage Tree, the White Oak is estimated to be at least 675 year old. It is located in the Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area, which is the largest publicly-owned Environmentally Significant Area in London and has been designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland. This beloved tree is known as The Meeting Tree. Through stories passed down from generation to generation, this tree was a meeting place for those seeking freedom and traveling along the Underground Railroad. This tree also likely watched over Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and his wife as they camped at the Westminster Ponds before hiking to the forks of the Thames in March of 1793. This tree also stood in close proximity to Swartz’s Tavern where the prominent Upper Canada Rebellion leader William Lyon MacKenzie stayed a guest in 1837.
AMERICAN SYCAMORE at Eldon House
Eldon House is an historic Georgian Manor, virtually unchanged since the nineteenth century. The house and its grounds have been open for public viewing since being donated to the city in 1960.
Eldon House was commissioned to be built in 1834 by John Harris, a member of the British Navy who came to Canada for the purpose of fighting the Americans on the Great Lakes. John lived there with his wife, Amelia, and their ten children. Eldon House remained in the Harris family for four generations; it contains family heirlooms and furnishings, and its grounds contain a very special, very old tree.
During his lifetime, John Harris planted a stand of Sycamore trees on the property – only one of which survives today. It is a sizable tree with textured bark, and huge summer leaves that provide shade to passers-by. The Eldon House Sycamore is located adjacent to the property’s front gate, tilting slightly toward Ridout Street. (to the right of the gate as if you are about to enter)
During its lifetime, this tree has seen the likes of Canada’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, famous soldier and politician Colonel Thomas Talbot, actors Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, and members of the Labatt brewing family.
At the time of its induction to the Heritage Tree program in Oct. 2018 the Eldon House Sycamore was approximately 150 years old and stood at 84 feet tall with a spread of more than 57 feet.
Labatt Park's SUGAR MAPLE
This landmark Sugar maple tree is believed to be between 120 to 150 years old. It resides just inside the front gates of the historic Labatt Memorial Park. Established in 1877, the park holds the Guinness world record for the oldest baseball diamond and continues to host games to this day. Nearly every major star of early professional baseball has played at Labatt Memorial Park.
The park was owned by the Labatt Brewing Company before it was donated it to the City of London on January 1st, 1937, under the condition that it remain a public athletic facility in perpetuity and be named Labatt Memorial Park.
This majestic Sugar maple tree became a part of the park approximately 35 to 45 years ago when the City of London extended the park’s boundaries. To have a tree this size and age within the property of a baseball stadium is extremely rare, and the City of London is forever grateful for all it has to offer.
To log this cache;
1. You MUST UPLOAD, WITH YOUR LOG, a MINIMUM of 3 PHOTOS, one with each tree. Each tree photo should include yourself (face does not need to be shown) OR your GPS device OR other personal item held out WITH THE TREE VISIBLE behind. Due to the Sugar Maple at Labatt Park being inside the gate your photo SHOULD INCLUDE THE LABATT PARK SIGN with the SUGAR MAPLE behind.
2. At the Meeting tree AND the Sycamore at Eldon House measure, with outstretched arms (hug the tree), how many arm lengths around the tree is it for YOU. (include this in your log)
3. Send the following in an email to the Cache Owner;
- What are the two letters and two numbers on the white marker, approximately 3x5cm, on the fence, at the Meeting Tree? With your back facing the tree you should see the marker facing you on the fence on the right side. Approximately at N 42° 57.272' W 81° 12.920'
- What is the last line of text on the Eldon House historical plaque just to the north of the Eldon House sycamore? Approximately at N 42° 59.072 W 081° 15.310
- At the main gate of Labatt Park, just to the north of the Labatt Park sign on the fence at the tree, there are two tall pillars. On one pillar is a large square light but on the other there is a small animal. What is the animal? Approximately at N 42° 58.994 W 081° 15.595
And if you like it, would you consider giving it a favourite point?
Congratulations to BWJM for the First To Find
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
For more information on Heritage Trees go to THIS LINK