The oak is England's national tree and is integral to our history and folklore. From druids worshipping in oak groves to King Charles I famously evading capture with the help of an oak tree, oaks have been part of our culture for thousands of years.

Now, the 28-acre Lovell Quinta Arboretum in Swettenham, has been awarded a National Plant Collection by Plant Heritage's Plant Conservation Committee for its oak (Quercus) collection.

The newly-accredited collection is one of only three oak National Plant Collections recognised by Plant Heritage, the charitable organisation which works to conserve the UK's horticulture heritage.

It's also the only one in the north - the others being in Hampshire and Devon.

Most of the oaks at the arboretum were planted by Sir Bernard Lovell, perhaps better known as the founder of Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The collection has been named the 'Sir Bernard Lovell Historic Collection' in his honour.

Rhod Taylor, curator of the arboretum said: "We're honoured and delighted to have this award, as the procedure for acceptance is stringent and requires the plants to be healthy, labelled and recorded.

"We're also required as National Plant Collection Holders to make it available for study and propagation by kindred bodies.

"We're keen to help bring the diversity and importance of these trees to a wider audience.

"If you're only familiar with English oaks, pay us a visit! There are several hundred species worldwide, and we have 63 examples including some rarer and unusual examples such as evergreen, large leaved and variegated forms."

Of particular interest are the brown oak, native to China; Turner's oak and the daimio or Japanese Emperor oak. The red oaks in particular make a glorious show in the autumn.

Vicki Cooke, conservation manager at Plant Heritage, says: "There are now 676 National Plant Collections in the UK, which are cared for by our dedicated Collection Holders.

"These 'living libraries' are hugely important for horticultural conservation as they each ensure that a diverse range of garden plants which may no longer be commercially available continue to thrive in gardens, greenhouses and homes across the country.

"Due to their size the tree collections are naturally trickier for most of us to care for, which is why we are so pleased that Lovell Quinta Arboretum's oak collection has just been accredited as a new National Plant Collection.

"We are also pleased to recognise in the title of the collection the contribution to plant conservation made by Sir Bernard Lovell.

"We look forward to seeing how this collection continues to thrive in Cheshire and hope many visitors get to see its beauty this summer."

The Lovell Quinta Arboretum, owned and managed by the Tatton Garden Society, is in Swettenham Village, near Congleton, CW12 2LF (behind the Swettenham Arms).

For more information visit their website.

Dogs on leads are welcome. Free for members, non-members welcome at £2.50 per person.