Wildlife friendly

Beech tree

Shady summer green beechwoods are a delight to see and walk in. Beech is potentially a large tree which is thought to be native in the south of Britain, makes a good specimen tree. It produces...[more]

Downy Birch tree

This British native birch tree is the best choice for planting on wet sites. It is completely hardy throughout Britain and will provide shelter for other species of trees planted nearby. Downy birch i...[more]

Field Maple tree

A deciduous British native tree particularly valued for the wildlife it supports, its small size (seldom over 18 metres tall) and subtle autumn foliage colour. Traditionally it was often managed as un...[more]

Hornbeam tree

This tree is native to Europe and Asia Minor, including southern Britain. It is superficially like beech but is more tolerant of frost and poor ground. The wood is white, hard and heavy, but not fl...[more]

Pedunculate (English) Oak tree

The familiar common or English oak is found across most of lowland Britain. Oak timber is legendary for its strength and appearance. There are good and bad oak timber sites. It prefers heavier soil an...[more]

Rowan Mountain Ash tree

A native species seen at its best amongst the acid rocky uplands of the north and in Wales. Its display of golden leaves and bunches of radiant scarlet berries on a fine October day is a memorable sig...[more]

Sessile Oak tree

Of the two common oaks in Britain this species tends to prefer moister, rocky upland sites in the west. It is native to Europe, including Britain and Asia Minor. There are many forms, some of which ar...[more]

Small-leaved Lime tree

The lime is an excellent tree for avenue planting and gives good shade.   It has nothing in common with citrus fruit but the name lime derives from the German word Linde which means lime. It...[more]

Wild Cherry: Gean

This self sterile, suckering cherry extends naturally from Britain to the Crimea. There is some doubt about the exact origin. Such a useful plant was clearly spread artificially in the unrecorded past...[more]

Wild Service Tree

The wild service is one of the rarest of British native trees.  In years gone by the berries were a delicacy for country folk, hanging from strings in kitchens to ripen and then eaten like swe...[more]

Willow tree

The genus Salix contains 300-500 species (taxonomists cannot agree). These may be dwarf shrubs, bushes or large trees. Many are suitable for ornamental use. Coppice and pollards of some provide superb...[more]

Wych Elm tree

Wych elm is reproduced by seed and not by suckering so it is more resistant to Dutch elm disease than English elm. In areas where the disease is no longer prevalent planting may be worthwhile again. T...[more]

Blackthorn

A dense viciously spiny spreading shrub ideal for hedges and game cover. It is resistant to gales and salt laden winds. The white flowers occur before the leaves in what is invariably a bad spell of w...[more]

Box

Evergreen box is potentially one of the most valuable trees that can ever be grown by woodland owners. It has a useful life as year round shelter for game. It acts as a frost blanket for sensitive tre...[more]

Common Yew

The yew is native to Europe (including Britain), North Africa and West Asia. It makes a rounded medium sized tree with a short but massive bole. Often several stems have coalesced to form a fluted col...[more]