It has been a while since I posted about the cork oak, but Jude’s post this week on trees reminded me of the wonderful Cork Oaks we walked past last week. It also gives me a great excuse to take part in variations on a theme!
The colour of this one suggests that it was harvested quite recently. Harvesting oak trees is a very skill skilled process, as only the outer bark is removed. The cambium layer of the trunk, which carries all the nutrients, is left undamaged and for a short time after harvest looks glorious in its reddish tones. The trees can only be harvested every nine years, about the same time as as it takes to learn the skills in harvesting. The trees are first harvested when they are around 25 years old, albeit it is not until thee trees are around 40 years old that the bark which is suitable for cork stoppers. A tree can be harvested over 16 times as they live for 200 to 300 years, and so it is not unusual for a tree today to be harvested by the grandchild or great-grandchild of the man who first harvested it.
Cork harvesting is a sustainable industry, and the trees are hugely beneficial to the environment. You should see how many bees they are surrounded by when in flower. Unfortunately however both the industry and the trees are in decline because the wine industry has shifted to using alternative wine stoppers. This is not good for the future of our planet, and is also having an negative impact on the lives and income of the families who manage the cork forests in Portugal, Spain and elsewhere in the world. We all need to pop a cork, and save a tree.
I’m a bit dim and have always wondered how there can possible be enough trees for the gazillions of wine bottles filled every year, but what wonderful trees they are 🙂
Definitely not dim, I think everyone probably thinks that until they either see the trees being harvested or is told!
We keep meaning to go to one of the cork museums, but have yet to organise ourselves. One of these days . . . . .
Alas it is well nigh impossible to find cork in wine bottles here in Australia… it is only used in the most expensive of wines which are well outside my price range.
oh no – that really isn’t good. Shame on the producers 🙁
Sadly it has been like that for many many years now.
If only you had corktrees – your climate is perfect for them and they need far less water than eucalyptus.
We actually do have a couple of small areas of cork tree here in Canberra. They are beautiful trees and while I do recall there being evidence of harvesting on some of them I need to investigate a bit more.
Look forward to hearing more 🙂 Remember harvesting only can happen every 9years!