THE ANNE FRANK TREE AT BATSFORD ARBORETUM

“From my favourite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind.”

- ANNE FRANK

A large horse chestnut tree stood behind the building in Amsterdam that hid Anne Frank from the Nazis during World War II. It was an enduring source of comfort and joy for Anne and she describes it in her famous diary at a time full of terror and suffocating monotony.

Anne and her family were betrayed to the Nazis on 4th August 1944 and Anne died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on 31st March 1945. A mere two weeks before the camp was liberated. She was just 15 years old.

In August of 2010, at 170 years old, the chestnut tree crashed to the ground succumbing to disease and a violent storm. However, anticipating the worst, grafts had already been taken from Anne’s tree and delicate saplings were successfully cultivated. These were distributed across the UK from Scotland to London in remembrance of Anne; a bright, eloquent, curious and energetic teenage girl who didn’t make it. One of these saplings was planted at beautiful Batsford Arboretum in October of 2010. .

I visited Batsford Arboretum on a sunny spring day in March this year, just a week before the anniversary of Anne’s death. The chestnut tree is thriving – standing around 5 metres tall surrounded by rolling hills and nature’s beauty and brilliance.

Each time I see Anne’s tree I am moved as if it was the first. There are powerful and conflicting feelings at Anne’s tree, and this is exactly what makes it so important.

I am always reminded of Anne’s love of nature and how comforting she found it. How, in the suffocating annexe where they hid, she found inspiration and joy in seemingly the smallest of ways. Also, her eloquence, strength and selfawareness. But always in remembering how remarkable she seemed we have to remember her suffering; the horrors of the war and the vile atrocities committed against the Jews and others who didn’t fit in with abhorrent Nazi ideals.

Anne’s tree is a place of incredible beauty, inspiration and profound sadness. It’s this contrast and discomfort that reminds me to strive for better, fight injustice and be more Anne.

There are copies of Anne’s diary for sale in the arboretum shop and also books on the infamous Mitford’s who once lived there at Batsford Park. The great irony of course is that two of the sisters, Unity and Diana, had strong connections to the Nazis and fascism. Obviously making the presence of Anne’s tree even more profound and important.

Batsford Arboretum, garden centre and cafe are open 9:30am – 5pm and last entry to the arboretum is at 4pm.

I hope the tree inspires young teenagers and, in particular, young women to be true to themselves despite the incredible pressures on young lives nowadays. It’s such a great place to take our kids and create conversation especially if they’re studying ‘Anne Frank – The Diary of a Young Girl’ in Year 6.

I’ll be visiting on the 12th of June – Anne’s birthday – to enjoy the scenery, think of Anne and lay some flowers for her at the tree.

“I think spring is inside me. I feel spring awakening, I feel it in my entire body and soul.

- ANNE FRANK, 12TH FEBRUARY 1944

Words by Mide Carter.