The huge oak tree shades the surrounding area. Not far from the cottage, young Luke plays nearby as his father labors with his shears. Many conversations are heard by the old tree in the years with Luke around. Michael's wisdom is passed to his son beneath her shade, or sometimes a reprimand for startling the sheep as they are being clipped. In either case, the tree servs to provide more than shade, and thus is fondly named the Clipping Tree.

Chosen for the Shearer's covert from the sun, Thence in our rustic dialect was called the Clipping Tree, a name which yet it bears.