How to spotThe English oak is undoubtedly themost well-known UK native tree.Oak trees in parks and other openspaces form a wide canopywith sturdy branches beneath,whilst woodland oak trees have ataller, thinner shape. English oak’sopen canopy lets light penetratethrough to the woodland floor,allowing wildflowers to grow below.Young trees have smooth andsilvery brown bark that becomesrugged and deeply cracked as thetree grows.English oak trees have veryrecognisable leaves. They are pale green with 4 - 7 lobes, rounded projections just like ear lobes, and are attached to the branches with almost no stalk.The acorn is the fruit of oak trees. English oak is also known as pedunculate oak because its fruit are held on long stalksor ‘peduncles’.

Left:

Que

rcus

robu

r lea

ves

© M

icha

el T

ham

e. T

op: Q

uerc

us ro

bur ©

CC

BY-

SA

.

ENGL

ISH OA

K FAC

TSHE

ET

Where it growsEnglish oak trees are widespread across the UK, common everywhere apart from the north of Scotland, and dominate many woodlands.They also grow in hedgerows and fields, and are often planted in parks and large gardens.

English oak

Latin nameQuercus robur

A tree canopy is formed by the upper layer of leaves and branches of an individual tree or group of trees.

Registered charity 294344 and SC038885

Supporting the Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar project

ENGL

ISH OA

K FAC

TSHE

ET Don’t confuse it withSessile oak (Quercus petraea) The sessile oak looks very similar to theEnglish oak and is particularly commonin uplands and western parts of the UK.The English oak has acorns on 2 – 8cmstalks, whereas the acorns on the sessileoak are stalkless.The opposite is true for the leaves of thesetwo oak trees, the sessile oak has farlonger leaf stalks than the English oak.

Benefits for wildlifeOak trees are exceptionally valuable to wildlife, hosting hundredsof species of insect and supplying many birds with an important food source. Acorns are a popular food for many wild animals such as badgers, deer and squirrels, which may explain why so few acorns get the chance to grow into trees!

Did you know?The 29th May used to be celebrated as Royal Oak Day or Oak Apple Day in celebration of Charles II hiding in an oak tree in Shropshire to escape his Roundhead pursuers in 1651. Perhaps this is why the Royal Oak is the third most common pub name in Britain?

Get involvedHave you seen any noble English oak trees near you?Take a photo to share with friends and @GrowWildUK online using #englishoak and #NatureQuest

Que

rcus

robu

r.

Why it needs protectingA disease known as ‘acute oak decline’ has recently been identified in the UK, causing branch dieback and potential death of the English oak. The causes are yet to be understood.The oak processionary moth is another problem: a non-native pest that damages leaves and increases the chances of a tree being damaged by other diseases.

Que

rcus

pet

raea

.

Sessile oak

English oak