Rewilding Oak: Natural regeneration of oak and the nature of the wildwood.

Rewilding Oak presents a new perspective on natural oak regeneration, backed by international evidence and a rigorous reassessment of the historic wildwood. This book is the first to assemble comprehensive evidence challenging the accepted ‘Vera hypothesis’, which argues that oaks have been dependent on large grazing animals to maintain a half-open landscape since prehistory. Contrary to accepted wisdom, extensive field observations show that oaks maintain themselves in forests without the need of animal intervention. Rewilding Oak investigates the ecology of our native oaks and their capacity to regenerate in various habitats, from grassland to woodland. Evidence from forest history and prehistory supports the ‘closed-canopy’ hypothesis of the wildwood. With profound implications for nature management, this book presents a compelling case for rewilding oak with minimal intervention.