Ancient Oaks in the English Landscape

England has more ancient native oak trees than the rest of Europe combined due to historical factors such as the Norman conquest, Royal Forests, and private ownership of parks. Modernization of forestry in England only took hold after 1920, making it too late to destroy all of the old and worthless hollow trees.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2022
Publisher: Royal Botanic Gardens

England boasts an impressive abundance of ancient native oak trees, surpassing the rest of Europe combined. The historical factors behind this remarkable phenomenon are intricately intertwined, with no connection to climate or soil conditions. This captivating story traces back to the Norman conquest of England in 1066, when the nobility established Royal Forests, deer parks, and exclusive hunting grounds. These royal preserves served as an early form of nature conservation, allowing the privileged few to hunt and preserve deer. However, it was primarily driven by the desire for exclusive hunting privileges.

Over time, the preservation of these oak trees was further reinforced by private ownership of thousands of parks, the conservatism of landowners, the availability of overseas timber, and the absence of devastating wars that had ravaged the English landscape. Most of these conflicts had remained confined to the continent. The modernization of forestry in England began to take hold in the 1920s, but it was already too late to save the majority of the old and worthless hollow trees. In contrast, modern forestry had been introduced on the continent at least 200 years earlier, resulting in the devastating destruction of ancient trees.

It is due to a combination of these circumstances that England has become home to a unique and invaluable population of ancient oaks. These trees are not only vital for biodiversity but also hold immense cultural and ecological significance, making them a treasured asset exclusive to England. The preservation and conservation of these ancient oak trees are crucial for future generations to appreciate and enjoy the beauty and ecological importance of this remarkable natural heritage.

Weight: 1640g
Dimension: 226 x 267 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781842467664
Edition number: New ed