The ancient oak forests of England hold a special place in all of our hearts. It is often said that “England was built on oak,” and it’s definitely true that Britain’s Mighty Oak trees have played a significant role in the nation’s development for centuries.
Our ancestors carried acorns for good luck and to ward off illness, and many ancient civilisations, including the Greeks, Romans, Celts, and Druids, believed that the oak tree was magical. And speaking of magical, the Christmas Yule Log, which was originally an oak log decorated with mistletoe and holly, is a testament to the tree’s importance
Today, the oak tree’s impressive legacy can be seen in prestigious oak wood buildings and beautiful, ancient oak furniture. The image of an oak tree appears on the reverse of the pound coin, and the National Trust uses a sprig of oak leaves and acorns as its emblem. It is also worth noting that “The Royal Oak” is one of the most popular names for pubs in Britain!
A Short History of English Oak.
The English Oak tree, also known as Pedunculate Oak or Quercus in Latin, belongs to the Beech family. It is considered the king of the forest due to its impressive height, age, and strength, all traits which have contributed to the Oak being our national tree.
Oak trees have been around for much longer than humans, dating back to about 300,000 years ago, during the interglacial period. Despite the shrinking woodland areas, the English Oak tree continues to thrive and is an important part of our natural heritage.
Oak Ecology
Oak trees are a common sight in the Midlands and through the South and East of England, with their broad, rounded crowns and grey-fissured bark making them easily recognisable. These trees have been a favourite among children for generations, as their branches often grow low on the trunk, making them perfect for climbing.
The British Isles have two native oak species: Quercus robur (common or pedunculate oak) and Quercus petraea (sessile oak). Sessile oak is older and grows naturally in upland areas, while Quercus robur prefers lower regions.
To differentiate between sessile and pedunculate oak, look at their acorns. Acorns from pedunculate oak are borne on stalks, while those from sessile oak are not. Additionally, if you examine the dead leaves on the tree during winter, you’ll notice that the leaf stalks are very short on pedunculate oak.
The buds of oak trees resemble small nuts arranged spirally on the outer twigs and clustered at the twig tips. Between mid-April and mid-May, the leaves begin to emerge. Oak leaves are quite distinctive, with 3-6 unequal thumb-shaped lobes on either side of the leaf, giving it a wavy-edged look.
Often, tiny discs made by insects called galls appear on the underside of the leaves, but they do not seriously affect the tree. The leaves fall off in October and November.
The leaves of the Pedunculate Oak usually appear a few weeks earlier than those of the Sessile Oak, and the differences in their leaves are one of two easy ways to identify which species of Oak a tree is. Sessile Oak leaves have a longer stalk and lack the earlobes of the Pedunculate Oak at the bottom of the leaf next to the stalk.
Oaks grown on open land tend to spread out, while those surrounded by other trees in a woodland, tend to grow taller and stay slim. The Oak tree has deep roots and can withstand drought, but it doesn’t do well in shallow soil.
Oak prefers moist, mineral-rich soil with a pH of 4.9 to 5.4. Oak trees can tolerate waterlogging for long periods, even in salty water.
Oak wood is solid and durable, making it perfect for building frames, furniture, wine and spirits barrels, and charcoal. You can still find oak furniture from the 14th century and earlier for sale – but it is as expensive as it is beautiful.
Oak Fruits or Acorns
The Oak produces male flowers in the form of slender pale green catkins, while their female flowers are located on spiked stalks. This unique characteristic of oak trees is a fascinating aspect of their reproductive cycle.
During the summer, green acorns develop and sit in a small cup. Oaks do not produce acorns every year, but when they do, they fall, usually leaving the cup behind and turning brown as they lie on the ground.
An Oak tree typically starts producing acorns between 25 and 40 years old and makes the most acorns during its middle age, between 80 and 120 years. As the oak tree grows older, Acorn production and overall growth both slow down and the tree will begin to lose branches, as it begins to decline.
During early spring, an oak tree grows a primary shoot that leads to the formation of two opposite leaves. Oak trees can grow to have a massive spread, which adds to their grandeur. The outer branches may die and fall, leaving behind decaying stumps.
Over time, oaks undergo a natural process called “crown death”, where the highest branches die back first. As the tree ages, the heartwood of the main trunk also dies and rots, but the tree remains healthy. This is what gives the ancient oaks the distinct appearance of being three-quarters dead.
Once fallen, an acorn’s first task is to send out a red shoot that roots in the ground and becomes the central taproot. This descends deeply in search of water.
When it comes to the acorns, the stalk lengths are reversed, with the Pedunculate Oak tree bearing acorns on long stalks (or peduncles – hence the name), while the Sessile Oak has clusters of acorns on short stalks attached directly to the outer twigs.
The Pedunculate Oak is more tolerant of extremes of climate. It grows in valleys, near rivers, and on damp, moist land that is not too acidic.
Its ability to root into heavier soils is ecologically valuable for its structure-improving and drainage effects. The Sessile Oak will grow in more acidic, poorer, and more sandy soils but is much less tolerant of flooding than the Pedunculate Oak. However, the Sessile Oak will thrive at higher altitudes.
Oak and Wildlife Benefits
Oaks are some of the most important trees in the British countryside, providing a home to a diverse range of species that are crucial to the ecosystem.
Did you know that as many as 284 different species of insects call these trees home? This is because oaks are essential for the survival of certain butterfly species such as the Purple Hairstreak and Purple Emperor.
Acorn-eating animals like jays and squirrels also play a vital role in the spread of oaks, as they bury the acorns in the ground, allowing the trees to propagate and grow.
Oaks also serve as a habitat for many British bats, which roost in their hollows during the day. Meanwhile, birds such as Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Spotted Flycatchers, and Nuthatches find food and shelter in Oak trees, making them an essential part of the ecosystem.
Wild Primroses, Bluebells, wild garlic and wild violets depend on the rich soil beneath oaks to thrive. The combination of the tree’s deep roots and the nutrients they extract from the soil creates an ideal environment for these delicate plants to grow and flourish. I’ve also heard some ecologists say that individual oaks should be designated as nature reserves in their own right so that they can continue to provide a home for all these species.
Overall, the importance of oaks in our ecosystem cannot be overstated. They are a vital part of our natural heritage, supporting a diverse range of species that rely on them for food, shelter and life.
Jackdaw in an Oak Tree
The Wisdom of the Oak (Folklore)
The oak tree has been an important part of human history and culture for centuries. Druids used to worship in oak groves, and couples would get married under their spreading branches.
Today, the oak is the most common British native tree found in woods and hedgerows. No other tree has played such an important role or been valued by humans, even as an object of worship and veneration
The Yule Log, traditionally cut from oak, was decorated with holly and mistletoe for Christmas. People carried acorns as charms to bring good luck and good health.
Oaks were pollarded for a variety of reasons, mainly to encourage the growth of large branches at the crown, which could be used for building timber. Oak wood is so durable and robust that it was prized for roof timbers in great medieval grain barns and churches, such as Lincoln Cathedral.
Green oak, or unseasoned oak was invaluable for shipbuilding. Great warships such as Henry VIII’s Mary Rose and Grace a Dieu were built almost entirely out of oak, and 2000 mature oak trees were used to make one ship, called Great Britain in 1812. Whole forests of pollarded oak were reserved for naval shipyards, and some, like my local Ebernoe Wood in Sussex, still survive.
From ancient to medieval times, pigs were moved into pasture woodland to feed on acorns in autumn. The right to graze pigs, known as “pannage”, was often keenly disputed and jealously guarded. It meant that extensive oak forests were maintained because of their acorn crop. This function was valuable for the woodland and brought significant value to local communities.
Oaks had sacred significance in various cultures, like the sacred oak of Ireland at Dunmanogoe, while the earliest Christian synod in England met at St Augustine’s Oak in Herefordshire. The Kings of Tara in Ireland met under Oaks. The presence of holy oak groves where Celtic people worshipped was well known in classical times and commented on by writers such as Strabo and Pliny.
When Christianity arrived, people believed that fairies would inhabit oak trees. If you see a hole in the trunk, it is said to be a ‘fairy door’ (which can be caused by fallen branches), and, it is said you should rub your hands on the hole if you want to call on the fairies. This can be done to pay your respects or to ask for help.
There are many superstitions associated with oak trees. For example, fairies were believed to dance around the Herne’s oak in Windsor Great Park.
Foresters and woodman families used to announce deaths to the nearest oak tree and this was said to bring strength to the surviving family.
Planting an acorn during a dark moon phase was believed to bring wealth and prosperity. Hanging an acorn around a child’s neck was considered to protect them from harm.
Changes in the colour of oak leaves were said to be a sign of impending disaster, whilst, if you needed to cut down an oak tree, it is recommended to do so during the waning moon phase and only when the wind comes from the north.
Oak Tree Place Names:
The British Isles are home to thousands of place names that are associated with oak trees, which is another testament to the close relationship between the tree and the people.
Many farm and field names, as well as village names, have a heritage that reflects this association. If you take a look at an Ordnance Survey map, you can find ancient oak trees growing in places such as Broad Oak or Great Oak farms and lanes.
If a place name starts with ‘Ac’, it is likely to be linked to oak trees. For instance, Acton Bridge in Cheshire means ‘settlement by a bridge where oaks grew’, Acle in Norfolk means ‘oak wood’, Acrise in Kent means ‘oak copse’, Accrington in Lancashire means ‘settlement where acorns are found’, and Aqualate Mere in Staffordshire means ‘oak glade mere’.
The place names in Ireland also reflect this association, as ‘derry’ indicates an oak wood, while Kildare means “Church of the Oak”.
The place name Derwent, as in the river Derwent and Derwentwater (Cumbria), comes from the old Celtic word ‘derva’, which means river or lake by which oaks grow. Finally, Copdock in Suffolk means ‘coppiced oak’ or ‘oak rising to a summit’.
Finding an oak tree that’s more than 300 years old can be a challenge since, in the past, oaks were typically pollarded to provide firewood and timber for buildings.
The Newlands Oak was the largest English oak tree ever recorded and had a trunk measuring 45 feet around when it fell. Today, the biggest oak tree in Britain stands in Sherwood Forest with a circumference of 33 feet, weighing 23 tons, it is estimated to be 800 to 1000 years old!
Oak Trees and the Weather
Oaks also were said to be indicators of weather patterns. The gods associated with oak trees are also associated with storms, especially thunder.
Due to the oak tree’s height and low resistance to electricity, it is more likely to be struck by lightning. According to some folklore, lightning is significant because people think that God struck the tree to leave mistletoe behind.
In the old Irish rhyme, called the Oak and the Ash is said to predict the weather based on which tree’s leaves appear first:
If the oak is before the ash,
Then we’ll only have a splash.
If the ash is before the oak,
Then we’ll surely have a soak!
Over the course of many generations, the people of the United Kingdom and Ireland have developed a deep and profound connection with Oak trees.
From folklore and mythology to practical applications such as ship-building and furniture-making, these trees have played a significant role, and I hope you have enjoyed learning about the rich history and ecology of Oak trees and their close relationship with generations of people who have lived alongside them.
The English Oak Woodland Trust
Complete Guide to Oak Trees Gardeners World
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