On arriving here from Ireland some fourteen years ago and buying six acres of bare land, I realised that the things I missed most were the changing colour of the seasons and the smell of the deciduous woods I had spent my childhood in. Already having an extensive knowledge of Oak trees.

I spent ten years collecting and planting Oaks from around the world, reading, studying and gleaning more knowledge from wherever it could be found.

During this time I hunted high and low for a book on the subject but to no avail, as it transpired there was no such book.

After so much research and a life time love of Oak wood lands I decided to write it myself for other. Oaks have played a great part in the evolution of my and all of our cultures and if you don’t believe it read on. The Oak is also the most obvious form of introduced flaura or fauna that I know off that has been quite advantageous to the Australian landscape, soil and wildlife rather than detrimental like so many of the other impulsive imports. This book is a simple guide to the things we didn’t know, but probably should, about the Oaks of the world. I hope you enjoy this brief summary of Oaks, as I see them, as that is my aim.