England’s Trees (how well do you know them?)
Despite England having lost most of its woodlands, it is still a country of terrific trees, which give homes and food to birds and native wildlife, and pleasure to us.
Trees also have other benefits like reducing carbon emissions, cooling urban areas, protecting against flood and wind, and generally making for nicer places to live.
Learn which trees and bulbs are not safe near pets. Also know trees to avoid near horses (including yew, oak and sycamore). Conkers are also not safe near pets.
English trees face real threats from disease, and a changing climate. Urban growth and intensive farming also eat into their space. Groups like Trees for Cities work to protect these living landmarks.
National schemes plant mixed species hedges, restore ancient woods, and encourage the use of home-grown trees. New tree planting and better care aim to keep woods healthy for future generations.
Broadleaf Species: Oak, Beech, and Ash
- The oak, with rough bark and spreading limbs, is home to hundreds of insects and birds. Its acorns, dropped in autumn, fuel squirrels and jays.
- Beech trees stand tall with smooth silvery bark. Their leaves filter sunlight and form carpet-like layers of leaf mould where fungi and insects thrive.
- Ash trees are easy to spot by their blad buds and feathered leaves. They support a web of wildlife, from moths to nesting birds.
Birch, Rowan, and Willow
- Slender silver birch grows in open woods and heathlands. Its pale bark peels away in papery strips and provides shelter for insects.
- Rowan, sometimes called mountain ash, glows with red berries in autumn, which blackbirds and thrushes love.
- Willow (with its soft furry catkins), flourishes near rivers and ponds, feeding early bees.
Alder, Elm, and Hazel
- Alder lines the banks of England’s rivers, its roots helping stop soil from washing away. Its purple catkins add a splash of colour in spring.
- Elm numbers have dropped because of Dutch elm disease, though you’ll still find some tough survivors.
- Hazel, with its twisting stems and catkins, fills hedgerows with lush nuts that feed dormice and birds.
Plane, Sycamore, and Cedar
Victorian gardeners loved to experiment, bringing in bold newcomers.
- Plane trees now shade many city streets, shrugging off pollution and pruning. They are the most common trees in the city of London.
- Sycamore, though not native, is everywhere from parks to farmland, loved for fast growth and sturdy timber. Of course Northumberland’s Sycamore Gap was recently in the news, after being felled by vandals (thankfully new shoots are growing).
- Majestic cedars top lawns and stately gardens, their wide branches forming green umbrellas.
Conifers: Pine, Spruce, and Fir
- Scots pine, the only native pine, dots heathlands with its orange bark and long needles.
- Norway spruce, known to many as the classic Christmas tree, grows fast and forms dense plantations. These trees are also needed by red squirrels (focus should be on this, rather than culling grey squirrels).
- Douglas fir, originally from North America, now rises above forest plantations, valued for strong wood.
Orchard Trees: Apple, Cherry, and Plum
Old orchards brim with apple, cherry, and plum trees, which burst into blossom every spring across countryside and city gardens. Their flowers draw in bees, and sweet fruit feeds both people and wildlife.
These trees link back to English folklore and village life, with apple-bobbing and cherry fairs still alive today.
Crab Apple, Pear, and Wild Service
The humble crab apple sprouts in woodlands and hedges, its small fruits feeding thrushes. Wild pear and the rare wild service tree play quiet but key roles, supplying food for insects and birds. Their spring blooms and autumn fruits spice up wild corners and old woodlands.
