We all know that any furniture constructed from oak wood can be one of the most beautiful pieces of furniture that you can buy. But whilst the Oak tree is alive, it is also one of the most beautiful species of tree on the planet.

The lifecycle of an oak tree itself is relatively simple and comprises of nine rough stages:

1. Seed - Like many things in life, including humans, even the oldest oak tree begins life as a seed.

2. Seedling - Once that the seed is in the ground, the first shoots begin to appear.

3. Sapling - This is the term given to the tree once that it reaches 1 metre in height and 7cm in diameter.

4. Pole –-The tree is now young and is 7-30cm in diameter.

5. Mature tree - The tree is now over 30cm in diameter as the reproductive years start. For some species of oak tree, this might take up to 75 years.

6. Old tree - Growth slows, typically at around 250 years.

7. Mature Tree - The tree begins to die back and growth ceases. A study on Dartmoor showed that Oak trees measured on Dartmoor in 1621, measure the same height today.

8. Snag - The tree begins to break branches and decay is evident along with the beginnings of dead wood.

9. Death - The tree is dead.

Despite a relatively simple lifecycle, the tree, once past its seedling stage, becomes home to a great plethora of life and becomes an important part of its ecological environment.

Ecological Relationships

In the United Kingdom at least, the oak tree is known as the primary habitat for more organisms than any other tree. Not only is this due to the sheer size and scope in which the tree provides, but also due to the fact it can live for up to 500 years; creating an assured living space more many entities.

Even underground the roots of the roots of the tree form many reciprocal and symbiotic relationships with many species of fungi. It is an amazing natural trade in which the fungi receives sugars and carbohydrates from the process of photosynthesis whilst the tree receives nutrients and minerals in turn.

Moving to the trunk of the oak tree, a vast diversity of lichens (over 300 species), have been recorded growing on oaks.

With that considered, the oak tree becomes even more interesting when you consider the creatures that live on the plant. According to Trees for Life, an organisation dedicated to restoring the Caledonian Forest:

"Many organisms have evolved with oak to produce the abnormal growths that are known as galls. Over 40 species, including midges, mites and wasps, are responsible for stimulating the oak, by means which are not fully understood, to produce unusual growth forms on its leaves or twigs, within which the larva of the insect lives and feeds."

Not only that but large numbers of larvae, spiders and caterpillars live on oak trees. One of the most interesting insects is the Oak Bark Beetle which leaves a distinctive pattern upon the wood of the tree. The can mainly be found in the South of England where the weather is fairer.

Distribution

Although White Oak, which can be found throughout most of our online shop, many of the oak trees that you see in Britain are known as Sessile Oaks and can be found most of Europe; from the Ural Mountains in Russia, right through to the West coast of Ireland.

Although 450 species of oak have now been classified throughout the world, only 25 are native to Europe.