Royal Oak Trees, King George Highway

The Royal Oak Trees are valued for their symbolic ties to the British Empire and monarchy. These trees were planted as a commemoration of the 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and symbolize the British origins of many of Surrey's first settlers. Countries throughout the Empire were sent English Oak seedlings from the royal forest at Windsor Great Park to act as a lasting commemoration of the Coronation.

The King George VI Highway, part of an international highway system that connected Canada from the Fraser River, south to the Peace Arch at Blaine, Washington, was officially opened on October 16, 1940. The naming of the highway for the King was also a demonstration of loyalty to the Mother Country at a time of war. The trees were planted to define the highway as a formal processional.

The Royal Oak Trees are also valued because they provide a transition between a major public transportation corridor and private property. Creating a visual and symbolic break, the trees have become an important part of the landscape along King George Highway, from the Nicomekl River to 8 Avenue. The protection and maintenance of these trees also demonstrates the commitment of the City of Surrey in recognizing and preserving its natural heritage.