An oak tree has been planted at a memorial garden in Stoke Poges to commemorate its 80th anniversary.

Staff and members of the Friends of Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens in Church Lane marked 80 years since the gardens opened by planting an English oak, just metres away from the oldest tree in the gardens, a 600 year-old oak.

The Gardens were designed in the 1930s by leading landscape architect of the day, Edward White, who designed a country garden containing small gardens and plots available to buy for the interment of ashes.

There were to be no monuments as in a cemetery and there are over 500 individual gated family gardens instead.

The garden is considered to be White’s best work and has been lovingly maintained by staff at the cemetery and Friends of Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens.

As such, it is now listed as a Grade I garden by the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens.

South Bucks District Councillor Luisa Sullivan, cabinet member for the Environment, said: “Planting an oak tree seemed an appropriate way to celebrate the anniversary and is a gift from the Friends of Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens.

“It is said of oak trees that they are young for 300 years, mature for 300 years and die for 300 years.”

The gardens are open to the public every day of the year and are free to visit.