The English Oak by Ellen Castelow The mighty English oak* is woven into the history and folklore of England. Druids would worship in oak groves, couples would marry under their spreading branches and the Yule Log, decorated for Christmas with holly and mistletoe, was traditionally cut from oak. Acorns, the fruit of the oak, were carried by folk as charms to bring good luck and good health. The timber, prized for its strength and durability, is still used in the construction of houses, furniture making and of course, shipbuilding. The English oak has always enjoyed a close association with the Royal Navy, whose ships were constructed from oak timbers until the middle of the 19th century, earning the Senior Service the nickname ‘the Wooden Walls of Old England’. There have been eight warships called HMS Royal Oak, and ‘Heart of Oak’ is the official march of the Royal Navy. Over the centuries, oak has been used to make barrels to store wines and spirits, and its bark is also used in the leather tanning process. Until the early twentieth century, the large round growths found on the trunks of oak trees, known as called oak galls, were used in the production of ink. More recently, the image of an oak tree has appeared on the reverse of the pound coin and the National Trust uses a sprig of oak leaves and acorns as its emblem. ‘The Royal Oak’ is also one of the most popular names for pubs in Britain! The oak even plays a part in weather prediction: If the oak before the ash, Then we’ll only have a splash. If the ash before the oak, Then we’ll surely have a soak!

There are more oaks in England than any other woodland tree. Their distinctive shape makes them easy to spot in the English landscape. Because of their size (they can grow to over 30 metres) and the fact they can live for over 1,000 years, much of the folklore surrounding these mighty trees concerns individual oaks. Nearby, Savernake Forest boasts at least six ancient oaks.

Questions About Oak TASK: Read the text above and use it to answer the questions below:

Where did Druids worship? ………………………………………………………………………………………. What is a Yule log made from? …………………………………………………………………………………. What is the fruit of an oak tree called? ……………………………………………………………………… What properties make the timber ‘prized’? ………………………………………………………………. Name four uses for oak timber: ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. What was oak barked used for? ………………………………………………………………………………… Name two places the image of an oak is used: …………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Which nearby forest has ancient oaks? …………………………………………………………………….