Oaks

Introduced to Britain in the late 1500s this tree differs from most oaks in that the leaves are spiny, like holly, and it is evergreen- keeping its leaves all year.

A much debated tree that physically looks like a half way house between an English oak and a sessile oak.

The common, pedunculate, or English, oak is the commonest tree in southern and central British broadleaved woods. In fact, throughout Europe it has been the predominant timber tree since prehistoric times.

An frequent tree which may confuse those who recognise the common or sessile oak as the leaves are very pointy yet distinctively oak.

The sessile oak is so-named because its acorns are not carried on stalks (peduncles) but directly on the outer twigs (sessile). It is commonest in the north and west of Britain.

Introduced in the 18th century this tree was planted for its fast growth. Its negative on native oaks were only discovered later- the tree harbours a parasitic wasp which destroys the acorns of other oaks so preventing the growth of new oaks.