There are several different species of Oak which are now considered to be British species, including the Holm Oak (naturalised), the Common Oak (native), Sessile Oak (native), Red Oak (naturalised) and the Turkey Oak (naturalised).
Oak trees are prized for the acorns and large green leaves in summer, the species is also known for living for an incredibly long time with some known cases of the plants living to over 1000 years old.
The British Navy is connected with the song ‘Hearts of Oak’ because of timber from Oak trees was a popular timber for producing British ships.
The Oak leaf is also a large part of British heritage as the emblem was printed on coins in the past and there is a huge amount of folklore surrounding the trees.
In a lightning storm Oaks are very likely to be hit, which historically added a lot of mystery to the species. Marriages and gospel services have been known to be conducted in the shade of the tree.
There are also a variety of medicinal properties connected to the species and it can be used to treat diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, throat infections and wounds.
The main uses of Oak trees involve the timber however. As well as being ideal for use in the construction of ships it is also valued for furniture and flooring.
Holm Oaks
The Holm Oak is a particularly unusual variety of the species as it is an evergreen and the tree flourishes in coastal conditions with small amounts of salt spray from the sea.
This tree grows to anywhere between 8 and 20 metres tall and the Latin name form the Holm Oak is Quercus Ilex.
Common Oak
The Common Oak is the most prevalent type of Oak tree and is regularly referred to as the English Oak and grows to around 15 to 20 metres tall in a wide range of conditions.
Common Oaks are easily confused with the Sessile Oak and the Turkey Oak and there are only small details which differ between these species’ and the Common Oak, or Quercus Robur.
Sessile Oak
The Sessile Oak's Latin name is Quercus Petraea and it is also known as the Durmast Oak. Some trees reach 30 metres tall and the timber is particularly strong and durable.
The Sessile Oak has dark green leaves with a glossy finish but the underside can have a fine downy coating.
Red Oaks
Because of numerous similarities Red Oaks are very frequent and commonly confused with other Oaks, particularly the Common Oak or the Sessile Oak, and the full Latin name for the tree is Quercus Rubra.
These trees are usually found in parks and streets where they are planted as ornamental trees because of the very attractive leaves which are deep green until autumn when they become a vibrant red.
Turkey Oaks
The Turkey Oaks were introduced to Britain in the 1700s as they are particularly fast growing plants so they work well in streets and as windbreaks as they reach maturity quickly.
This species can also reach 30 metres in height and the Latin name is Quercus Cerris. Unfortunately the timber from this tree is generally poor quality so it is rarely used.
