The holm oak quercus ilex trees are not native to Britain, although they were prior to the ice age and have a strong botanical relationship to all oak trees. They have been established in Britain for 400 years, although determining how long exactly they have been on Hayling Island would require dendrocronologic data. However by observation of samples of oldest holm oaks on Hayling Island, it could be approximated from the size of the largest samples of the trees, that they must have been established for at least 100 years or even longer. Approximately five insects native to Britain thrive on a living holm oak tree; this is approximately the same as a native yew tree. Although the dead wood from a holm oak tree would actually be more useful to native insects as it doesn’t contain the same quantity of toxin as yew. Rotting timber such as branches from trees fulfils a vital role in the ecosystem for fungus and insects. Trees also help retain water in the environment. There is a direct correlation with biomas increase and moisture. Holm oak do not cause damage to the ground any more than any native tree, they do cut out light from the ground which is a natural process in any natural woodland or area of mixed vegetation. If trees are not present and the land is devoid of tree cover this allows only small flower and herb varieties to proliferate at the expense off trees and shade loving varieties. From observation under the holm oak trees on Hayling Island the following species can be observed growing, along with many others. Bindweed, snowdrop, ivy, and stinking iris and butchers broom which is only found in the south, and is an ancient forest indication species, which proves a very interesting point that the area of Hayling sea front common was in fact woodland at one time. Not grazed by sheep.

The holm oak trees on Hayling common are numerous and vary in age and size. Mature holm oak trees have assimilated into the ecological system, and perform a vital role supporting some of the birds on the common. Removal of these mature trees would be detrimental to bird numbers and survival, as many birds are dependent upon these trees for the following reasons, roosting, nesting, perching, hunting, and food. Examples of some of the birds that utilise these qualities are as follows. The wood pigeon, turtle dove collard dove, cuckoo, little owl wryneck, wood lark skylark, wren, dunnock, grasshopper warbler, sedge warbler, white throat, lesser white throat, chiffchaff, wood warbler, gold crest spotted flycatcher, pied flycatcher, whinchat mistle thrush, blackbird, songs thrush, yellow hammer, cirl bunting, chaffinch, green finch, linnet, bullfinch, house sparrow, tree sparrow, kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcons, woodpecker, nuthatches, long tailed tits, goldcrests, starling and Jays.

Holm oak is evergreen and very strong with a naturally spreading crown. The combination of the evergreen leaves and dense crown provides excellent cover for nesting and roosting birds. In the absence of the holm oaks the nesting sites could not be replaced quickly as there are not many other mature trees available on the sea front common. During the time it would take to grow suitable new trees, it is very likely that tree nesting bird numbers would obviously decline. The holm oak trees are able to provide all year round protection for birds roosting. Roosting is very important to all birds of a night and trees provide a great deal of protection, particularly the holm oaks that offer protection from the weather and over predation. Some species of birds have actually suffered from a lack of cover and declined in numbers. Undoubtedly removal of holm oak on Hayling island sea front common would cause fatalities in the bird population.

There are a number of raptors that use the sea front common. The little owl was originally imported from Holland 1888, however it was present in Britain in prehistoric times. This bird has declined in numbers in the south of England possibly from over use of pesticide. Numbers are sufficient on Hayling in general to make sightings quite common. They can be seen in many places of an evening, including on holm oak on the sea front common. The common would be popular of a night for little owls, as there would be less likelihood of them meeting its enemy, the tawny owl. Mature oak trees including the holm oak; can provide nesting holes, which are favoured by the little owl. The environment would also be ideal for the little owl. If the holm oaks are removed then it will be very unlikely that the little owl will visit the sea front common. If the holm oaks are removed they will never be able to form hollows. Other raptors visit Hayling sea front common such as kestrels, regularly visit. They use the tops of the holm oak trees to rest upon between hovering. The kestrels also use tall trees amongst various other places to nest. Removal of the holm oak would prevent any kestrels from using the trees in the future as nesting sites. There are a number of rarer species of raptors that visit Hayling Island throughout the year. An example would be the merlin. These birds find safety and rest in trees including the holm oak trees that are available at present to them.

Decreasing suitable perching sites for raptors may not have a significant effect on overall raptor numbers initially. However if they find an area to be unsafe to visit due to a lack of suitable safe perches, visiting numbers will decrease which would be detrimental in the long term to the ecological and aesthetic balance. If the holm oak continue to grow to full size they would significantly increase the suitable niches for many birds including raptors.

Birds have various strategies for nesting sites. The tree nesting strategy is a very popular choice for a lot of birds. Birds employ various strategies to exploit the various niches provided by trees depending upon type, age, location, growth pattern, and variety. Some examples would be the very familiar nesting between suitable supporting branches, another example would be the use of holes produced in trees by the passage of time. The choice of niche can be bird species specific, some are very particular, and some are more adaptable. The holm oak forms a large leaf covered and dense evergreen growth. This is comprised of many small twigs and branches surrounding larger branches that forms the crown.

Wood warblers usually inhabit sessile oak dominated woodland, however they can occasionally be seen on the sea front. This is because they will sometimes inhabit areas of mixed broadleaf and undergrowth. Without the holm oak they might desist their visits.

The spotted flycatcher likes to inhabit sparsely wooded regions and can be seen on the sea front obviously benefiting from the holm oak. The spotted flycatcher has declined over recent years. One reason for this is the destruction of its habitat that is oak woodland. They will adapt to other trees that are not native such as species of cyprus and holm oak. They will use horizontal branches to nest on which are providing by holm oak. The pied flycatcher has also suffered a severe decline due to the destruction of oak woodland. They use hollows that are naturally created in mature and damaged trees; to nest in this is why mature trees are absolutely crucial to their survival. If the holm oak is allowed to grow to maturity they will eventually provide this niche.

Whitethroats and whinchats are quite often seen on hayling island sea front. They generally tend to favour areas with isolated trees and scrub, which is hayling sea front exactly. They eat insects, and a high view is essential to them for this. When they locate themselves on a high up branch they use it to locate insects then attack them. If the holm oaks are removed then there will definitely be a decline in whitethroat and whinchat numbers.

The mistle thrush, which used to be common, is now a protected species. The mistle thrush and the other thrushes, the blackbird and song thrush, are seen in a variety of environments. They like to nest high in the fork of tree. Removing the holm oaks from the sea front could reduce the numbers of thrush varieties thus contributing to their general decline. When a song thrush is seen it generally attracts a lot of attention, which is a good measure of its relative rarity. There is a small flock of mistle thrush, which are present on hayling sea front, which is not a common sight.

Linnets are a common sight perching on the trees on hayling island sea front. They are fond of nesting amongst the thick branches of evergreen trees, which sums up the exact qualities of the holm oak trees. From ornithological research conducted into linnet behaviour. The result of this research showed that linnets actually come back year after year to nest in the same geographical location exactly to within a few feet to where they had been the previous years. Linnet can’t use global positing systems or read maps. They find their favoured location that they previously inhabited by sight recognition, on objects such as tree and or even buildings. If the holm oak are removed this will not only mean linnets will not be able to build nests in the trees. Also they will not be able to recognise an altered tree free landscape this will lead less linnets on hayling sea front and if as a result they do not stay and cant nest there numbers could decline.

Bullfinches can be seen all over Hayling Island. Although a native bird, which has its place in the ecosystem, it still causes a lot of damage to trees ripping the buds of their tree. The holm oak provides more than ample buds, which are popular with the bullfinches, this detracts then away from other trees. Holm oak thus provides protection for other species of trees.

The sparrow family; house, tree, and dunnock. Are all on the decline in the countryside, and are more likely to bee seen in parks and gardens than anywhere in the countryside. This despite the fact that our gardens are full of non-native species mostly bought here by 19-century collectors. These are essential for tree and house sparrows. They use them to roost and nest in, and are particularly fond of thick treetops, which sums up the holm oak trees. The treetops are essential to sparrows, as they need them to communicate with each other treetop to treetop. As the holme oaks provide so many acorns and insects it is an essential food supply for the sparrow family. If the holm oaks were to be removed from the sea front it would be contribute to the general declining that is taking place throughout Britain, of one of our most familiar birds.

Holm oak being an oak produces acorns. In addition to acorns they also produce catkins and flowers and buds. The various stages of growth produce food in abundance. Birds are able to feed upon acorns, (that vary throughout growth) buds, flowers and the catkins. The holm oak produces all these in great abundance. All the acorns that are produced from the tree also provide a huge source of food for insects, which is a food source for the birds. The skylark is in serious decline on for example the South Downs, which has been subject to strict policy of grazing, and scrub removal which has resulted in the skylarks amongst many other bird species being denied any food source or any roosting cover. Skylarks are not on the decline on Hayling Island at present perhaps; they could be if the trees are removed. The plant and insect food that is provided by the holm oak is absolutely vital for the birds.

The Head Gardener Topher Martyn, at Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford, Middx. Had this to say about holm oak. “Hey, don't knock the Holm Oak too much. They're not as much of an ecological disaster as you may think. We always have a lot of bird activity in and around trees – albeit specimens. I'm no twitcher, but we get long-tailed and other tits, woodpeckers, nuthatches and goldcrests flitting about in the crowns, and apparently eating catkins, immature acorns etc. Also, very much used as roosting sites, being warm and dry. Also I have a fine, dead stump, 3m high and 1.5m diameter, which is riddled with fungal and insect life and left there for that reason.”

Are the holm oaks at there optimum population? At present there are trees coming into the ecological community on the sea front. Some are going out of the community due to the action of humans, from fire damage general disturbance and grass cutting. Some trees have also died naturally at various stages of growth. Holm oak do not exclude other the native oaks they are just more efficient than native oak, and it can be shown that they grow alongside the native oak and that there are younger native oaks growing under older established holm oak, (dependent upon soil conditions). This shows the holm is not mutually exclusive. Holm oak is very efficiant at adapting to poor soil conditions and that is why they are present on the sea front. This however is not detrimental at the present time as the use made of this tree by the birds far outweighs any other considerations. If the population of holm oak were to increase by about 25% it would have little impact upon the other fauna and flora on the common. If though they were to increase in numbers by about 50% then this would indicate that they were a possible interspecific problem and excluding other species. This has obviously not been shown to be the case and cannot be shown if holm oaks are removed. If the trees are removed it will change the common for the worse and will undoubtedly lead to a decline in present bird numbers.