English Oak

The ruling majesty of the woods, the wise old English oak holds a special place in our culture, history, and hearts. It supports more life than any other native tree species in the UK; even its fallen leaves support biodiversity.1

Oaks produce one of the hardest and most durable timbers on the planet. However, it takes up to 150 years before an oak is ready to use in construction. It has been a prized hardwood timber for thousands of years and is still used for flooring, wine barrels and firewood.1

Other uses of oak:1

• Leaves, bark and acorns were believed to heal many medical ailments, including diarrhea, inflammation and kidney stones.
• Acorns have also been used to make flour for bread making.
• Tannin found in the bark has been used to tan leather since at least Roman times.

The acorns provide a valuable food source for several small mammals and some birds, but trees may take up to 20 years to produce fruit.2

The leaves of the English Oak can be distinguished by the small, ear-shaped lobes at the base of the leaf and its shorter leafstalk.3