Is Holm Oak invasive in the UK?

[Parker]

Do people think with a changing climate this will become an increasing issue or will we just accept it and live with different trees?

[dangerous brian]

Weve got plenty down here in cornwall.

[John Barleycorn]

Might be worth talking to that bloke at The Agroforestry Research Trust http ://www.agroforestry.co.uk , I remember him saying that it was hybridising & spreading along the coast in the Westcountry. Said some of the hybrids had a low tannin content in their acorns & were edible !

[chestnut]

we have a very old holm oak tree in our woods - but it has never propagated afaik

[ecolojim]

I think if a real shift in climate is a reality, we are going to inevitably have to accept a shift also in the distribution of varying flora and fauna. Different species will come into dominance, but is that always a terrible thing?

 

These things have been in constant flux since the dawn of time. There has to come a point where we change our way of life to meet the changing environment, and desist in attempting to bend nature to our will of what we think the 'status quo' ought to be

[Parker]

Weve got plenty down here in cornwall.

 

Would you say they were outcompeting the natives though or just living alongside them?

[Parker]

I think if a real shift in climate is a reality, we are going to inevitably have to accept a shift also in the distribution of varying flora and fauna. Different species will come into dominance, but is that always a terrible thing?

 

These things have been in constant flux since the dawn of time. There has to come a point where we change our way of life to meet the changing environment, and desist in attempting to bend nature to our will of what we think the 'status quo' ought to be

 

I agree, I think that the UK is undergoing some sort of climate changes and that we need to move with nature rather than trying to prevent it. Its a shame to lose some native flora and fauna but theres no way we can fight nature.

[Topher Martyn]

Plenty coming up along the East Devon/Dorset coast.

 

Very fine tree in the right place.

[rootstoshoots]

invasives can be terrible for the eco-systems, most of the good insects or birds etc. will not feed on invasives and if invasives crowd out the natives which is what some of the insects, etc. need to survive then there will be a real problem. there has to be checks and balances.

[Deciduous Dan]

there are large Holm Oak forests on the chalk downland on the south coast of the isle of wight where it has become naturalised. it can also be found in many areas of unmanaged woodland on the island in mixed stands with native trees.

 

I have found seedlings in my parents garden when they lived there, their was no obvious seed souse so had probably been distributed by jays or squirrels in the same way that they would spread the native acorns.

 

Which would suggest to me that it is invasive here and that with climate change it is likely to become more so.