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With your support, Action Oak will protect our iconic oak trees for future generations.

From little acorns

From
little
acorns

Oaks shape our landscape

There are around 121 million oak trees in UK woodland, with almost 1 million in London alone.

The UK has more ancient oak trees than all other EU countries combined.


Oaks support our environment

38 oak trees need to be grown to absorb the carbon emissions of the average car.

Oak trees are the UK's most important tree for biodiversity, supporting around 2,200 species. This is more than any other native tree species.


Oaks have shaped our history

Over 5,000 oaks were used in the construction of HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Around 660 tons of oak timber were used to build the hammer-beam roof in Westminster Hall in 1393.

What We Could Lose

Our oak
is under
threat

Our iconic oak trees face a fight for survival against pests and diseases that have the potential to devastate the oak population.

These include oak processionary moth, acute oak decline, xylella, root-attacking species of honey fungus and powdery mildews.

Losing oak trees from our lanscape would impact our well-being, economy, environment and the species that depend on them.

Research and monitoring has begun but we must do more to ensure we protect our majestic oak trees for future generations to enjoy.

Butterfly on oak leaf
Threats Facing Oak Trees

Get
involved

Celebrating our Oaks exhibition

An exhibition of award-winning photographs of the nation’s favourite trees will be touring the UK, dates confirmed so far are:

  • - Wakehurst: 31 January-28 February
  • - Westonbirt Arboretum: 1 March-1st April
  • - Yorkshire Arboretum: 2 April-7 May
  • - Belvoir Forest Park: 8 May-7 June

It will then follow to Wales and Scotland, dates to be confirmed.

Action
Oak

Action Oak is a initiative to protect our oak trees

The programme of activities which the Action Oak Partnership has identified to protect oak trees includes:

  • Working with owners and managers of oak trees and woodlands to help to protect the trees from a range of threats
  • Funding research to improve our understanding of the threats to our oak trees and to inform best management practices
  • Using established professional and citizen science networks to record changes in the distribution, age and health of our oak trees to identify priority areas for action
  • Encouraging organisations to join the Action Oak Partnership and people to support Action Oak

Together we can protect our oak trees for future generations

Help to protect our oak trees

To protect our oak trees, we need your support including more partners plus funding, sponsorship, time, expertise and contacts.

If you would like to support Action Oak, please contact the Action Oak Partnership at:

Action Oak Partnership