Jack's Wee Wee Bush

There's a gnarled old hawthorn tree near Oakham that locals call Jack's Wee Wee Bush, and it's one of those roadside oddities that stops you in your tracks. The name comes from a long-forgotten tale - the sort of story that's been passed down so many times nobody quite remembers which bit is true anymore. What you're actually looking at is a stunted, weather-beaten shrub that's been there for centuries, twisted into shapes that almost look intentional.

It's not going to hold your attention for hours. You'll pull over, take a photo, read the weathered sign if there is one, and move on. But that's rather the point. These are the things that make driving through the Midlands worthwhile - unexpected, unglamorous, genuinely old. Kids might find it a bit dull unless you spin them a decent yarn about it first. History enthusiasts and folklore types will get a kick out of hunting it down, though.

The bush sits near enough to Oakham that it's a natural pit-stop if you're based at Greendale Farm Caravan & Camping Park, just five miles away. It costs nothing and takes ten minutes. Go in late afternoon when the light's better for photos, or early morning if you want it to yourself. There's no visitor centre or café attached - it's just a tree, basically. But sometimes that's exactly what makes a place worth finding.