Oak trees provide habitats of great biodiversity and are particularly rich in insects, spiders and fungi. They grow relatively slowly, but are very long-lived, with some specimens surviving for over 1,000 years. There are around 600 species of oak tree, some evergreen and some deciduous, native to the northern hemisphere and widely distributed in woodland and countryside. The leaves of oak trees are arranged spirally, often with lobed or serrated edges. Flowers, called catkins, are produced in spring and the acorn nuts in autumn. Oak wood has been heavily used by humans because of its great strength and durability.

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