Added: Oct 4, 2011

From: 49kingify

Duration: 1:6

History UK Oak trees have been a feature of our landscape since pre-historic times, when it formed part of the vast wildwood that stretched across Europe. The oak is actually a member of the beech family and can live for over 200 years. There are two native species of oak -- the English or Pedunculate oak which is more common in the fertile lowlands; and the Sessile or Durmast oak, the dominant tree in wetter, less fertile uplands. One of the oldest oak trees is about 400 years old and measures 105 feet tall and 32 feet in circumference. A mature oak tree can produce some 50,000 acorns, while more than 300 species of lichen have been known to grow on oaks. For centuries oak trees supplied Britain with timber for construction as well as fuel, charcoal for smelting, bark for leather tanning and even acorns for animal fodder. The oak's sturdy timber was used to build the ships of Drake and Nelson and each ship could use wood from up to 2,500 trees. In 1651, King Charles II hid in an oak tree at Boscobel Hall after being pursued by his enemies, until it was safe to flee to France. Following Charles' restoration, the tree at Boscobel Hall became famous as the Royal Oak. In 1919, after an acute timber shortage during the First World War, the Forestry Commission was set up to protect and expand Britain's woods. The Commission has planted many new forests and also helps private landowners regenerate their woods. Today oak is still one of the most widely used hardwoods in Britain for interior joinery and furniture. Did you know? The Oak with the biggest girth in Britain is the Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire, and has a hollow trunk that was once said to be big enough to hold 20 people and is thought to be approximately 1,000 years old. The River Severn has oak breakwaters which are still in use today -- after allegedly been set by the Romans. It's not only squirrels who bury acorns -- woodpeckers also hide them underground!

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