‘Oak’ Walton Common, Walton-in-Gordano, near Clevedon

English oak (Quercus robur)

The oak colonised Britain about 9000 years ago after the retreat of the ice, and for nearly 4 millennia Britain was pretty much covered with deciduous oak forest.

“As long as the Lion holds his place as the king of beasts, and the Eagle as king of birds, the sovereignty of British trees must remain to the oak”

John Evelyn in his celebrated book ‘Sylva’, 1664

Oaks are slow growing and, when young, can struggle to compete in closed cover woodland. They often do better in the open, starting life protected by a patch of brambles. It is extremely easy to grow an oak from an acorn in a pot in the garden and I encourage you to do so and plant it out somewhere for future generations to enjoy. We need the oak not only for its quality timber but because it makes a a huge contribution to biodiversity. The oak supports around 2300 species which use them for food, shelter and breeding habitat. Even in winter they attract many birds such as wrens and long-tailed tits. The acorns are loved by jays and squirrels. Tree creepers and bats roost in their holes or under loose bark. Old oaks are abundant in invertebrates, lichens, mosses and fungi. Even their dead wood provides nourishment to many, many species.

Threats: Oaks face huge challenges. The oak processionary moth and diseases like “acute oak decline” and “powdery mildew” attack oaks. Oaks do not like the warmer wetter winters with their roots sitting in waterlogged soil, and climate change-related drought and flooding make them hugely vulnerable. Acorns need a cold winter with freezing and thawing to break down their hard shells so they can take in water and germinate. Many oaks are also lost through development and inappropriate management of ancient woodland and trees.

Symbolism: Strength, longevity, power, inner strength, overcoming problems. Acorns are a symbol of life, fruitfulness and immortality. The oak leaf represents strength, protection, courage and durability.

About the tree:

Sometimes a lot of life happens in the course of drawing a tree. I started this drawing in March 2022 and finished in April 2023. It was always a joy in the midst of a busy life to spend time at this wonderful spot, with views of the Gordano Valley, sometimes being visited by cuddly looking Dexter cattle and twice by hares. I have often wondered about the low branching form of oak trees found in high exposed places like Walton Common and Dolebury Warren. Trees are dynamic and limbs bend and flex under stress and the crown is like a sail that catches the wind, stressing all parts of the tree. This tree’s form is unlike the oaks in old parkland (like Ashton Court) where the lowest branches correspond to grazing height of deer. I am guessing that when this oak was a sapling it may have been protected by scrub, since removed, allowing low branches to form. With limbs near the ground, winds tend to go around the tree and create a more uniform stress throughout the tree, useful in this exposed location with winds coming up the estuary, where otherwise limb breakage could occur.

About Walton Common

Walton Common is an Avon Wildlife Trust reserve that lies on a limestone ridge which stretches from Portishead to Clevedon. It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (because of its rich grassland wildlife), and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with a history stretching back to the Bronze Age. With wonderful views over the Gordano Valley and across the Severn Estuary this grassland plateau has an abundance of wildflowers and butterflies in summer. Limestone grassland was traditionally managed by grazing livestock but changes in land use since the mid 20th century have led to a national decline of this habitat and the encroachment of scrub. Places like this are now rare and Walton Common’s rich wildlife community includes silver-washed fritillary and green hairstreak butterflies, common lizards, blackcaps, whitethroats, sparrowhawks and hares. Commons were originally pieces outside of the manorial estates where people had the right to graze their livestock and collect firewood. Dexter cattle have now been introduced to the reserve. These unfussy grazers are the smallest breed in the UK and they prevent scrub and bracken encroachment. They are controlled by invisible electric fencing, wearing collars that alert them to the presence of the boundaries. This allows the trust to remotely and selectively graze small areas and maximise the potential for wildflower grassland to thrive.

Directions:

GPS: ST 42470 7341

What3words: unscathed.equity.outbound

Car:

From the B3124 turn into Walton Street and go through the hamlet. At the point where the houses end there is a lay-by where you can park on your left, and just before this on your right is a gate into the reserve. Walk up this path and take the first left steeply uphill onto the open grassland. At the top the oak tree is directly ahead of you next to the path that runs along the west end of the plateau. If you like, with an OS map in hand, you can do a lovely circular walk also taking in some of the Portishead to Clevedon coast.

Bike:

If you don’t mind a bit of distance, cycling here would be perfectly possible from Bristol. You could take the cycle route through Ashton Court, Long Ashton and out along the railway to Nailsea. Then take the B3130 and B3120 Clevedon Road and turn into Walton Street.

Bus:

Unfortunately I have researched bus routes to Walton Common and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you want to spend half the day on the bus! You would need to get the X4, then X5.