THERE has been a huge row in Ludlow about two oak trees that according to the ‘Friends of Whitcliffe’ common are spoiling the view over Ludlow.

It might be bad enough if it was any other tree but the fact that these are oaks really puts the fat into the fire because these are special trees.

They are regarded as a national emblem and even appeared on the pound coin that was minted in 1987.

In short, the oak is probably the best-known and loved of British trees noted for its great size and rich canopy.

Oak trees are also noted for their long life and can generally live up to 200 years but it has been claimed that they can live up to 500 years, although this is good going.

As might be expected, because of longevity oaks do not come into their prime until they reach what for us humans would be considered to be old age. In fact they only really slow down and reach something approaching full size at about 120 years.

In their early youth, oaks will grow quickly and can get up to 40 metres high which is three times the height of a typical two-storey house.

Oaks are known for their rich autumn crop of acorns although trees do not usually start to produce the fruit until they get into their 40s. The peak years as far as the production of acorns is concerned are the years between 80 and 120.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the oak trees, apart from their magnificent beauty, is the way in which they support the natural world, including providing homes for birds, the insects on which the birds feed and also for caterpillars.

The acorns can also provide vital winter sustenance for animals such as the badger.

Oaks also have a major part in the culture and social history of the nation. During the time of Cromwell, it was common for couples to marry beneath the branches of great trees.

But for oak trees, our military and political history might have been very different.

The fact that a small island on the edge of the North Atlantic was at one time the strongest military and trading nation with an Empire upon which the sun never set owes a lot to the oak trees, leaving it with a lot to answer for, or to be thanked for, depending on your point of view.

British power was based upon its navy and, until the middle of the 19th century, oak was the main wood for ship building. Although the Empire came later, the trade routes opened by ships made from oak were crucial.

Oak has also been used to provide the beams in buildings.

It is still used for construction, in floors and also to provide the barrels in which wine is stored.

But oaks are under threat and, since the 1920s, some trees have been suffering from a condition known as ‘Active Oak Decline'.

The loss of an oak damages a whole eco-system and, in this context, axing two of them on the back of a subjective view that they spoil the view will leave many people unconvinced.