The decision to plan millions of oaks in 1810

In 1810, after events of Napoleonic wars, the king Frederik made the decision to plant thousands of oak trees between Hillerod, Esrum and Helsinge, an area since known as the Gribskov (Vulture forest) to make it possible to rebuild the Danish fleet 200 years from then, since that is the time oaks need to mature into ship oaks

In 2010 the time had come. In a public announcement, the Royal Forestry Commissioner of Denmark informed Queen Margarethe II that the oaks were now finally ready to be used for the rebuilding of the Danish Navy. Of course, this announcement sounded odd in our modern times, but the legal obligation from 1810 for the Royal Forestry Commissioner to announce to the reigning King (or queen) the day when the oaks officially would become ship oaks, was still in force.The obligation was duly fulfilled.

Hawila’s incredible luck (based on a good deal perseverance)

Now, at the antique sawmill of Kagerup, 15 of these matured ship oaks finally are waiting to fulfil their destination. Not by becoming ships of the Danish Navy, but by becoming a part of Hawila during the Great Refit, starting September 15th in the Isefjord town of Holbaek.

It took several months of negotiations until 15 of those beautiful 200 years old oak trees were ready for Hawila to purchase them

On February 20, the trees were felled and transported to the sawmill in Kagerup, soon to be milled into planks, ribs and deck beams for Hawila.
The final comment when we thanked Peter Chrois Moeller, the sales manager of Naturstyrelsen, who made it possible was:

It makes me happy that at least some of our great ship oaks can fulfil their destination and become part of a great sailing ship.

We feel privileged and grateful to Peter Chrois Moeller (Naturstyrelsen) and Gribskov’s forester Jan Erik Løvgen, for making this happen!

Without their support it would not have been possible.