Key Stages: 2 - 4

Description

Duration - 90 mins

George McGavin investigates the dramatic life of the oak tree - a species that makes extraordinary transformations as it meets the challenges of the four seasons.

In autumn, George goes underground, digging below a tree to see how its roots extract precious resource form the soil. He sees why the oak's super-strong wood made it the perfect material for building some of the most famous ships in naval history, including Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory.

There is a look at the sophisticated strategies the tree uses to survive gales and bitter frosts throughout winter. George finds out about the oak's vital role in architecture, revealing how some very familiar sights such as the tower of Salisbury Cathedral are in fact giant oak structures.

In spring, the tree must procreate and also protect itself from being devoured, while in summer, it is home to hundreds of species, as can be seen through a high-powered microscope.

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