The many ancient oak trees are one of Royal Djurgarden's most distinctive features. The oak tree thrives on deep fertile soil, but it can als survive in rocky terrain. Today, the best soil conditions are generally reserved for farming. In woodland areas the oak is able to reproduce easily, but tends to be crowded out by species that do not require as much light. The oak requires light to mature and grow thick and old, which is why ancient oak trees are found in environments where the landscape has been kept open. Oak and man have coexisted for centuries. The oak was favoured early on due to its acorns. In the 16th century, as the power structure of Sweden grew centralised, oak trees became the property of the state due to their importance in shipbuilding and tanning. This remained the case until the mid 19th century. Since oak trees regarded to inhibit the growth of forage grasses, and the general public was no longer allowed to make use of their bark and timber, oak po