HANDKERCHIEF TREE (Davidia Involucrate)
Deciduous tree Grows about 10–15 metres tall the crown shape often likened to a lime (Tilia). Branchlets glabrous, with a glaucous bloom at first. Leaves also resembling a lime, alternate, 8–15 × 7–12 cm, ovate, base cordate, margin serrate, apex acuminate, the upper surface silky-hairy, can live for many decades Common Names – Handkerchief Tree, Dove […]
WHITEBEAM (Sorbus Aria)
Charming and domestic, the whitebeam’s fruit is a favourite of garden birds. It’s rarely found in the wild but is a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens, with lovely blossom and russet autumn leaves. Whitebeam is a deciduous broadleaf tree that is compact and domed. Mature trees can grow to a height of 20m. […]
ALDER (Alnus Glutinosa)
Swamp-dweller, water-lover. The wood of this tough tree doesn’t rot when waterlogged, instead turning stronger and harder. Conical in shape, mature trees can reach a height of around 28m and live to approximately 60 years. The bark is dark and fissured and is often covered in lichen. Twigs have a light brown, spotted stem which […]
WILLOW, CRACK (Salix Fragilis)
Scruffy and loud, the crack willow is named after its habit of splitting with cracks and fissures, and how noisy its branches are when they break. It’s one of the largest willows and its leaves are popular with moth caterpillars. The crack willow is hard to tell apart from the white willow. Mature trees grow […]
WESTERN RED CEDAR (Thuja Plicata)
A tree of strength and industry, western red cedar is grown in the UK for hedging and timber. Though less useful than our native trees, it provides food and shelter for wildlife. A tall, conical, evergreen tree, reaching up to 65m. Some specimens of western red cedar can live to be over a thousand years […]
POPLAR, WHITE (Populus Alba)
Hardy, pale, magical. White poplar might not be native, but it is naturalised in the UK. It supports early pollinators and is an excellent coastal windbreaker, tolerating salty winds and exposure. White poplar is a deciduous broadleaf tree which can grow to 20m. The bark is pale grey with lines of black diamond-shaped pores, called […]
PINE, SCOTS (Pinus Sylvestris)
Towering in the glen, the Scots pine is a truly stunning tree. It is one of only three native conifers, and our only native pine. It’s the perfect home for iconic Scottish wildlife, such as the red squirrel, capercaillie, Scottish crossbill and the Scottish wildcat. Scots pine is an evergreen conifer native to northern Europe. […]
OAK, TURKEY (Quercus Cerris)
A pretender to the throne, the Turkey oak was introduced to the UK in the 1700s and is now impacting our native oak populations. It’s less valuable to wildlife, but much faster growing and a host of the knopper oak gall wasp. Turkey oak is a deciduous broadleaf tree which can grow to 30m. It was […]
OAK, SESSILE (Quercus Petraea)
Less famous than English oak, but no less loved, the sessile oak towers in the woods. Squirrels, jays and badgers love their acorns and caterpillars flock to eat their leaves, in fact 326 species of wildlife are found only on oak. Sessile oak is a deciduous broadleaf tree which can grow 20–40m tall. Look out […]
MAPLE, NORWAY (Acer Platanoides)
Introduced in the 17th century, the handsome Norway maple is known for its hardy timber. Its leaves are a favourite with caterpillars and its seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. Norway maple is a deciduous broadleaf tree and can grow to 25m. The bark is grey with fine ridges, and the twigs are […]