University of Exeter teams up with comedian Omid Djalili for ‘Oaktober’ campaign to protect the UK’s oak trees

A new campaign called “Oaktober” is using comedy to highlight the urgent need to protect the UK’s oak trees. 

Comedian Omid Djalili and climate activist and rapper Louis VI have teamed up with the University of Exeter and the creative collective Climate Basecamp to raise awareness about the 170,000 oak trees in the UK, which provide habitats for more than 2,300 species of birds, insects, and fungi.

The month-long initiative blends humour and science to engage the public and emphasise the importance of safeguarding these vital trees.

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Through a new comedy sketch, Omid and Louis VI hope to reach audiences who might not otherwise engage with environmental issues: “When I lived in London, I’d stroll through Richmond Park all the time, surrounded by these incredible old oaks, but I never really appreciated them. Now I want to give them the starring role they deserve. As the video shows, we neglect the oak at our peril,” said Omid.

Louis VI added: “Even as a massive nature geek, it’s only recently I clocked how important oak trees are to the ecosystem. There’s a 450-year-old oak near me in Tottenham, she was around before climate change even existed! Oaks aren’t just trees, they’re universes.”

The University of Exeter’s Professor Gail Whiteman, Hoffmann Impact Professor for Accelerating Action on Nature and Climate, helped spearhead the campaign alongside Climate Basecamp, co-founded by US actor Rainn Wilson (of The Office fame) and writer Chuck Tatham (Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother).

“People love trees and nature but most of us don’t realise the oak’s crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and British culture,” said Professor Whiteman. “By speaking science through comedy, we can reach new audiences and inspire real change.”

Students at the University of Exeter have also voiced their support for the campaign, describing it as a “creative” and “refreshing” way to get people thinking about sustainability. 

Sophie Lane, a third-year Environmental Science student, said: “It’s encouraging to see the University using comedy to talk about real climate issues. People can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the doom-and-gloom headlines, but this makes it accessible and hopeful.” 

Adding to this, James Patel, a second-year Geography student said: “Exeter is surrounded by beautiful green spaces, this campaign really reminds us to protect what we’ve got locally as well as globally.”

As part of the campaign, people across Exeter and the UK are encouraged to pick a tree, create social media content, and share it with ‘#Oaktober’, starting conversations about conservation and the importance of protecting nature for future generations.

To find out more and get involved, visit the Oaktober campaign page via the University of Exeter website.