#January 7, 1776
#OTD Spencer Turner, Leyton #Nurseryman, died.

Spencer created the Turner's #Oak & gifted one to Princess Augusta for #Kew Gardens.

Planted in the1770's, the #Tree still stands w/ metal struts for support betw/ the PoW Conservatory & the Hive.

The Great Storm (1987) lifted the tree out of the #Earth, freed the #RootPlate from centuries of #Compacted #Soil, & inspired #Arborists to rethink compaction.
They now use air spades to inject #Nitrogen & #Mycorrhizal #Fungi.