THE MIGHTY OAKS TREES OF ENGLAND

If ever a tree epitomised endurance in the English countryside it is the English oak Quercus robur { the genus name drives from two Celtic words "quer" indicate fine +" cuez" a tree ,while the species name indicates hard wood} . These mighty arboreal structures are mighty in stature and mighty in their use to mankind. From as far back in our history as the Druids { Druid loosely translated means tree-lover}, they have been held in high esteem. The Druids planted oak trees in great numbers. beneath their copious boughs they held rites and even local courts were they administered justice according to their laws at the time.

Also in the depths of our history is the fact that Charles the second, who's army was all but annihilated by Cromwell's Roundheads was forced to hide in an oak tree for many hours while his adversaries searched for him without success. Later the trees were often referred to as Royal Oak, a name that is still retained in the names of public houses and inns. It was the mighty oaks that were utilised in the building of the " wooden walls of England", a reference to the wooden sailing ships that defeated the Armada and participated in many other battles. It is estimated that it took a thousand mature oaks to build each one.

They have been used medicinally and for culinary purposes, especially the fruit of the tree -the acorn. Studies have revealed that a mature oak is capable of producing over 50,000 acorns. These fruits are of tremendous importance to the wildlife of Britain, where they are taken and often buried by creatures such as the jay, squirrel, wood pigeon, certain woodpeckers, mice and other small mammals. Many of the buried acorns are not recovered and therefore germinate, thus many creatures help in the distribution of the species.

In England their are two native species of oak the other being Quercus petraea the sessile oak { often referred to as the Durmast oak}. When the acorns are in evidence on the tree it is one of the best times of differentiating the species. The acorn of the English oak are borne on long stalks called peduncles { hence the trees alternative name of Pendunculate oak } while those of the sessile oak sit directly on the twig { sessile indicating stalk less}. Conversely the leaf of the English oak has hardly any stalk while those of the sessile oak have a more prominent stalk.

ACORNS--have fed animals such as pigs for centuries which has been well documented but they have also been utilised by man for culinary purposes. They were once roasted and ground up into a powder that was used as a passable substitute for coffee. They were even used to make a bread once they had first been boiled, then when dried crushed into a powder which was then used as a flour.

MEDICINALLY-- In archaic times many parts of the oak tree was employed for medicinal use, but most have fell out of favour, save for the bark which is used in by herbalist in the preparations to counteract haemorrhage's being of an astringent nature. Like other astringents { binding} it is thought to counteract the symptoms of diarrhoea and dysentery. These were administered in the form of a decoction. This decoction was also used as a gargle for throat infections and to stop the bleeding of gums. Oak bark was also dried out and crushed into a fine powder that was employed as a snuff for clearing the head of catarrh.

Other structures are also commonly associated with the oak tree, especially oak galls, one in particular the "knopper gall" has become widespread in England during the last few years. They are caused by gall wasps, tiny insects that resemble thin flies than a wasp. The wasp associated with this affliction is Andricus quercuscalicis.

The abnormal acorns affected, develop during the summer months and may easily be replaced by a virulent growth of the gall in the cup spreading over the fruit leaving a bizarre knobbly growth in its wake. Once the cup and growth fall away from the tree in late autumn they will remain until spring when a female wasp will emerge through a tiny hole at the top of the gall. In the north of England this type of gall was uncommon until about 10 years ago but is now an annual feature on many trees.

A more common gall associated with the tree is the " marble oak gall ". These are often referred to as oak apples a popular misconception for the latter are of a much greater size at up to 5cm in diameter. The oak marble gall is approximately 18-20mm in diameter and are as the common name suggests the size of a marble. When these galls begin to form they are of a green colour,however, it is not long before they turn to a grey-brown colour and very hard to the touch. The gall is caused by the gall wasp Andricus kollari. The grub develops inside this protective globe until they emerge as adults from a tiny hole. Another peculiarity of this gall is the length of time it remains on the tree after it has been vacated. It can be several years before they finally disintegrate.

WHAT OF THE TREE ITSELF--- There is a disease known commonly as the " sudden oak death" which has cut large swathes through the forests of America's west coast since the mid 1990's. Here in England we had been fortunate not to be under attack. that changed in 2001 when the culprit responsible-a fungus like organism Phytophthora ramorum was discovered attacking a small number of trees not native to our shores. The spores of P.ramorum are spread by rain drops and in the case of garden centres and nurseries by way of sprinklers, for this disease can affect many ornamental trees and shrubs. Indeed. it was very likely that it arrived here, via ornamental imports.

Studies have revealed that p.ramorum is at times restricted to the shoots and foliage of healthy trees, however, should the host be weakened by some injury, whether occurring naturally or by mechanical means, allowing the disease to get under the bark it becomes a much more serious threat. The countless spores that infect the tree may well spread throughout its system and the tree will eventually die. A classic symptom of an infected trunk is knobbly growths that emit a dark coloured sticky sap .

A contingency plan which includes destroying all infected imports at nurseries has helped to keep the spread at bay. However, the research department of the Forestry Commission have now found a more potent strain which they have initially called P. kernovii has been discovered growing along side P.ramorum which has attacked native oaks.

It was recorded in the south west of England and at a nursery in my neck of the woods -north west England. All affected specimens are destroyed. According to Dr.Stephanie Pain when the two grow together in close proximity , hybrids may well occur which are more aggressive than either parent. She went on to state " there is a worrying precedent. In 1993 alder trees {Alnus } growing along England's rivers began to die. In 1999, the culprit was identified as a hybrid between two introduced alien phytophthoros, since then at least 20% of English alders have died."

So the biggest threat to England's mighty oaks since the days of the Armada { who's sailors were told to burn down oak forests had they won the battle} may well be lurking undetected somewhere in the English countryside, and its not just oaks at under threat many of our native trees and shrubs mat also be assaulted.

JANUARY 2011----20,000 trees have been felled iN Somerset to try and prevent the spread of the disease which is spreading rapidly in England. The bad news for the Forestry Commission is that the disease has now affected other trees such as the larch. ten thousand larch trees have been felled in the Quantock Hills in woodland run by the National Trust. it is estimated that a further 50,000 trees will have to be felled in a near by plantation. The disease affects over 2,000 hectares in the south west of England and is making headway In other regions particularly in the south of the country and south Wales.  The spread of the disease to other species such as Larch and rhododendron is a worrying development.

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