Tree Trail Description in Alphabetical Order, [ location of tree on trail map in brackets ]
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ALDER - Alnus glutinosa: [ 20 & 73 ]
Grows to 20m with dark bark often covered in lichen. Dark green racket shaped leaves are 3 to 9 cm long with serrated edges. The long, dangling male catkins appear in spring. Female catkins grow in summer as small green knots which dry as they develop, turning black before the tiny fruits fall out. Seeds are eaten by siskins and greenfinches and some moths live on alders. The wood can be used for plywood.
ALDER BUCKTHORN - Frangula alnus: [ 9 ]
Grows to over 6m with dark brown bark. Branches are smooth and thorn less, the leaves are 3 to 7cm long, matt green and slightly hairy. Greenish white, star shaped flowers contain male and female parts and appear in clusters during May and June. The leaves are the favourite food of the brimstone butterfly. Birds like the berries that develop later in the year. Various parts of the tree are used to make dyes.
ALMOND WILLOW – salix triandra: [ 43 ]
A small bushy alluvial willow growing rapidly a first but seldom reaching more than 10metre. Smooth, flaking, brown bark, lanceolate, toothed, hairless, dark, shiny-green leaves. Large catkins useful as a pollen/nectar source. Locally common in the UK widely used in the Trent Valley willow industry. It is only identifiable as basketmakers' cultivars and its natural status may be questionable. A particularly attractive and fragrant species - the twigs have a faint rose-water flavour when chewed.
ASH – Fraxinus excelsior: [ 24 ]
Grows to 35m with a pale grey-brown bark. Leaves have 3 to 6 pairs of pale green, oval leaflets that grow opposite each other with one on the end, this is called a pinnate compound leaf. Male and female flowers grow often on different trees and are purple, spiked clusters which appear before the leaves. The female flowers are wind pollinated and form ‘keys’ which are dropped over winter and spring. Bullfinches eat the seeds and woodpeckers and owls like to nest in the trees. The leaves are food to many varieties of moth. A very tough wood, with shock absorbing qualities it is used as handles on tools like axes and for furniture.
ASPEN – Populus tremula: [ 50 ]
Grows to 25m with shimmering foliage. The grey bark can be very dark and covered in lichens. The leaves start out coppery before turning green. The flattened, flexible leaf stalks making it easy for them to flutter in the breeze. Catkins grow in March and April with male and females on different trees. Female catkins ripen to produce fluffy seeds. Aspen trees attract a wide variety of insects. The wood’s low flammability is favoured for making matches and its lightness is good for oars and paddles.
BASKET WILLOW – Salix viminalis: [ 8 ]
Grows to 7m with greyish-brown bark and yellow-green twigs. Leaves are 20cm long and 1cm wide, glossy and dark green. Underneath they’re covered in felt-like grey hairs. Male, yellow and female, green catkins develop on different plants and arrive in late winter before the leaves. After pollination the female catkins split to release tiny seeds. Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves and the catkins provide pollen to bees and other insects. This willow is great for basket weaving, screens and sculptures. It is also able to absorb heavy metals so is often used to help clean up industrial sites.
BAY WILLOW – Salix pentandra: [ 16 & 57 ]
Grows to 18m and the dark grey bark has criss cross ridges. It is named because of the similarity of the leaves to the bay tree. Dark green and glossy the leaves are approx. 5 to 12 cm long with finely serrated edges. Yellow, male catkins and green female catkins grow on different trees and emerge after the leaves, in late spring. Female catkins develop into a fruit capsule containing tiny fluffy seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Several caterpillars of moths eat the leaves and the catkin pollen is an early source of protein for bees and other insects. Salicin is a compound found in the bark of willows and has long been used as a pain killer, indeed Aspirin is derived from salicin.
BEECH – Fagus sylvatica: [ 40 ]
Grows to over 30m but has shallow roots so can be blown over. Fruits develop as beech nuts called mast and are contained in a prickly case. Beech leaves are eaten by caterpillars and the mast is enjoyed by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. Beech wood is hard and used for parquet floors and furniture.
BIRD CHERRY – Prunus padus: [ 29 & 52 ]
Also known as black dogwood and hogberry it grows to 25m. The bark is smooth, peeling and grey brown. The green leaves are oval, hairless and have fine sharp, serrated edges. Clusters of white, heavily scented flowers appear in April. They contain male and female parts and after pollination develop into red-black bitter cherries. The nectar is great for bees and the cherries are eaten by birds, badgers and mice. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars but toxic to livestock. Fruits and bark have been used to make dyes and the wood is light and good for making small items. The cherries have also been used in several medicinal remedies in the past.
BLACK POPLAR – Populus nigra ssp.betulifolia: [ 34 &72 ]
Grows to 30m and can live for 200 years, this tree is becoming rarer in the countryside. Dark brown bark often looks black and is full of fissures and cracks. Leaves are shiney, green and heart shaped with fine, tiny hairs. Red male catkins and green-yellow female catkins grow on different trees and are wind pollinated. The females develop fluffy seeds which fall in autumn. The catkins also provide pollen for bees while birds eat the seeds. It is the food plant for many moths including the poplar hawk moth. The fine, white wood was used to make cartwheels and floorboards. It can be coppiced so also provides bean sticks and clothes pegs.
BLACKTHORN – Prunus spinosa: [ 27 & 69 ]
Spiny and dense the tree grows to 6 or 7 m with dark brown bark. Commonly used as a hedging plant. Green leaves are slightly wrinkled, oval with a pointed end. White flowers contain male and female parts and bloom in March and April. They develop into blue-black berries or sloes. Bees enjoy the nectar, caterpillars of many moths eat the leaves and the birds like to nest in the blackthorn and eat the caterpillars and the sloes. The timber is traditionally used for walking sticks and the sloes are used in wines, preserves and to make sloe gin.
BOX – Buxus sempervirens: [ 46 ]
Slow growing box is used extensively in gardens clipped into topiary and hedges. It can grow to 12m with smooth grey bark that develops fissures with age. Small, oval, waxy, green leaves grow on short stalks. Clusters of green-yellow flowers are produced in April and May. They contain male and female parts which are wind pollinated. A green, dry capsule develops which ripens into a brown seed case. The box is liked by bees and provides dense shelter for small mammals and birds. The yellow timber is used to make violin pegs and musical instruments. It is toxic and may cause stomach upsets and skin irritation.
BUCKTHORN – Rhamnus carthartica: [ 33 & 60 ]
Grows to 10m with grey-brown bark and spiny branches. Leaves are dark green and glossy, turning yellow in autumn. Yellow-green flowers are pollinated by insects which travel between the male and female flowers on different trees. The females develop into purple-black berries which are eaten and dispersed by birds. It is a food plant to the brimstone butterfly and provides nectar to bees and other insects. The wood is rarely used although the fruits and bark can make a yellow dye. The berries have a laxative effect giving it the name purging blackthorn.
COMMON OAK – Quercus robur: [ 41 ]
Most full-grown oaks reach a height of 30m. The bark is smooth and silvery in young trees and becomes more deeply fissured with age. The leaves are smooth and around 10cm long with 4 to 5 lobes on each side. Oaks form catkins in the spring and the acorn fruits develop from green to brown before loosening from the cup and falling to the ground in autumn. The timber of the English oak is very strong and used to build boats, architectural beams and barrels. Oaks provide habitat for hundreds of insects and the acorns are eaten by mammals like badgers, deer and squirrels. Woodpeckers and bats can also live in the trees.
COPPER BEECH – fagus sylvatica f. purpurea: [ 1 ]
A cultivated form of the common beech. Grows to over 30m but has shallow roots so can be blown over. Deep purple leaves develop in spring and turn coppery in autumn. Fruits develop as beech nuts called mast and are contained in a prickly case. Beech leaves are eaten by caterpillars and the mast is enjoyed by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. The bark is often home to fungi and lichen. Beech wood is hard and used for furniture. It was traditionally used to smoke herring.
CRAB APPLE – Malus Sylvestris: [ 17 & 66 ]
Grow gnarled and twisted to 10m with a greyish brown bark. Ancestor of the many varieties of apple trees. Pointy brown leaf stubs develop on short stalks and have hairy tips. They grow into glossy, green, 6cm leaves. The blossom is sweetly scented attracting bees and other insects to pollinate it. The small apple like buds develop to around 3cm yellow-green fruits. Birds and mammals eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. The nectar and pollen are great for bees and the leaves are eaten by several moth caterpillars. Trees are planted to help pollinate other apples and the fruits are used in jams and jellies. The wood is pinkish in colour and is used in turning and carving.
CRACK WILLOW – Salix fragilis: [ 6 ]
The crack willow grows to 25m tall and is hard to tell apart from the white willow. The bark is dark brown and develops deep fissures with age. The leaves are long and dark green on the top and a lighter green underneath. The catkins arrive before the leaves and once pollinated become fluffy ‘pussy willow’. Trees tend to grow alongside rivers and lakes. The catkins provide pollen for bees and other insects and the leaves are used by some moths. The willow stems are very flexible and are used for weaving a huge variety of useful objects including baskets.
DEVON WHITEBEAM – Sorbus devoniensis: [ 35 & 71 ]
Grows to 13m with brown bark. The lobed leaves are dark green on top with white hairs underneath. White 5 petal flowers develop in May to June and male and female parts are found on the same plant. Orange-brown seeds ripen to fruits in September. The russet red fruits are eaten by birds and dispersed. Also known as otmast it is usually only found in Devon and the South West. It is often found in hedgerows. It can be eaten with a medlar-like date flavour.
DOWNY BIRCH – Betula pubescens: [ 31 & 64 ]
Grows to 30m with grey-white bark. Triangular green leaves are slightly rounded at the base and formed on hairy/downy stalks. Long male brown-yellow catkins form from May to June. Female catkins appear on the same trees, smaller and short green forms that once pollinated, thicken and change to dark crimson. Masses of tiny seeds are wind dispersed in autumn. Provides a habitat for many species of insects, home for woodpeckers and seeds for redpolls and siskin birds. The wood is tough and used for handles and furniture. The sap can be made into drinks and the bark is used for tanning leather.
ELDER – Sambucus nigra: [ 18 & 55 ]
Grows to around 15m and has corky grey-brown bark. Leaves are pinnate with 5 to 7 oval leaflets. Creamy white flowers with five petals form a large flat flower head with a strong smell. Insects pollinate the flowers which then turn into clusters of small red-black berries. The flowers provide food for bees and other insects while birds and small mammals eat the berries. Moth caterpillars also eat the leaves. The flowers are used to make cordials and champagne while the berries are used in wine and tinctures. The bark, leaves, flowers and berries also make dyes and were traditionally used to colour Harris tweed.
ENGLISH ELM – Ulmus procera: [ 4 ]
Mature trees grow to 30m although since Dutch Elm disease they are now often part of hedgerows. The bark is grey brown, fissured and rough. Green leaves are round to oval, rough and hairy to touch and they can be 4-9 cm long. Dark pink flowers contain both male and female parts and hang in tassels in February and March. Pollinated by the wind the flowers turn into samaras, tiny winged fruits that are dispersed by the wind. Many birds and mammals eat the seeds and the leaves are food for both moth and butterfly caterpillars. The wood is strong and durable and can be used to make many things from floorboards to coffins.
FIELD MAPLE – Acer campestre: [ 38 & 63 ]
Grows to 20m and lives up to 350 years. The bark is light brown and flaky and small grey leaf buds grown on long stems. The leaves are 5 lobed, small, dark green and shiny. The small flowers form in cup shaped clusters and are yellow-green. The flowers are insect pollinated and then develop into pink tinged, wing shaped fruits, wind dispersed. The tree is attractive to aphids which in turn brings ladybirds, hover flies and birds. The wood is good for making musical instruments, especially harps. The tree is also a great pollution fighter.
GOAT WILLOW – Salix caprea: [ 32 & 59 ]
Grows to 10m and has grey-brown bark with fissures. Unlike other willows, the leaves are oval, they are hairy underneath and tips point to one side at the end. Known as the pussy willow due to the appearance of the grey male catkins, female catkins grow on separate trees and are longer and greener. After wind pollination the female catkins develop fluffy seeds that are blown away. The trees can also propagate themselves by lowering branches into the ground where they root. Foliage is eaten by several moth caterpillars and is the main food for the purple emperor butterfly. Bees enjoy the nectar and birds will forage the tree for insects. Goat willow is more brittle than others so not used for weaving but does make excellent charcoal.
GREY WILLOW – Salix cinerea: [ 26 & 53 ]
Grows to 10m and is very similar to the goat willow. Grey-brown bark with fissures and twigs that can appear red-yellow. Leaves are oval approx. twice the length of the width. They are white and felty underneath with rusty hairs along the veins. Catkins grow on different trees; males are grey and oval;
females are longer and green. Wind pollination turns the female catkins into woolly seeds. Eaten by caterpillars and foraged by birds, providing nectar in the spring and the food plant for the purple emperor butterfly. As with other willow it is a source of salicin which is used as a painkiller.
HAWTHORN - Crataegus monogyna: [ 7 ]
Grows to 15m with brown-grey bark that has knots and fissures. Twigs are covered in thorns and green leaves are deeply lobed and up to 6cm long. The highly scented flowers can be white or sometimes tinged pink with 5 petals. They contain both male and female parts and appear in May in flat topped clusters. Pollinated by insects the flowers become red fruits called haws and contain 1 seed. Bees and insects enjoy the pollen and nectar while many caterpillars live on hawthorn. The haws are a good source of antioxidants for birds and some mammals. The dense tree is also a good place to nest. A popular hedging plant the wood is very hard and burns at high temperatures. Young leaves, buds and flowers are all edible.
HAZEL – Corylus avellane: [ 22 & 61 ]
Hazel is a tree growing to a height of 12m. Its bark is smooth grey-brown. The leaves are big and soft to the touch due to the hairy underside. In early spring you will find male catkins. These wind pollinate the diminutive female flowers which ripen into hazel nuts in October. The nuts are eaten by birds including woodpeckers, tits and jays plus animals. Hazel leaves provide food for many moths and the catkins are an early source of pollen for bees. Hazel sticks are popular with gardeners who use them to support peas and beans.
HOLLY – Ilex aquifolium: [ 13 ]
This evergreen can grow in a bush or a tree 10m high. The bark is hard to see but smooth and thin with brown ‘warts’ and the stems are brown. The leaves are dark green, glossy and spikey. Holly consists of male and female trees although some have been seen to change over time. The fruits become bright red and stay on the branches through winter and birds are fond of the berries. Boughs of holly are often used to decorate homes at Christmas.
HORNBEAM – Carpinus betulus: [ 28 & 56 ]
Grows to 30m with pale grey bark which has vertical markings. Green oval leaves with pointed tips they look pleated due to the deep furrows. They turn yellow to orange in autumn and most stay all winter. Male and female catkins grow on the same tree and are wind pollinated. The female catkins swell into papery winged seeds called samaras. Hornbeam is home to many creatures that can sheeter among the leaves in winter. Several moth caterpillars eat the foliage while birds eat the seeds. The wood is the hardest of any wood, it’s used in furniture, chopping blocks and cogs in windmills and watermills.
JUNIPER – Juniperus communis: [ 21 & 67 ]
This evergreen conifer can grow up to 10m. Grey-brown bark peels with age and has ridged, red twigs. The pointed needles have a silver band on the inner side. Small, yellow, male flowers grow on separate trees to the female. Wind pollinates the green female flowers which develop into purple, juniper berries. The berries are eaten by birds and dispersed. Providing dense cover for birds like the goldcrest and firecrest. It is a food plant for moth caterpillars and the berries are eaten by birds like thrushes and fieldfares. The berries are famous for flavouring gin and juniper essential oil is used in aromatherapy.
LARGE-LEAVED LIME – Tilia platyphyllos: [ 48 ]
The rarest of the native limes with dark, grey-brown bark which develops flaky plates as it ages. The grey-green twigs look reddish in sunlight and the heart shaped leaves are hairy all over. Green-yellow flowers contain male and female parts and hang in clusters of up to 10. After insect pollination smooth, round, fruits develop. Lime leaves attract aphids and their predators. Flowers provide nectar and pollen and bees also drink the honey dew produced by the aphids. Caterpillars of the lime hawk, peppered and vapourer moth also eat lime leaves. The wood is used to make piano keys as it doesn’t warp, and the bark was traditionally used to make rope.
MIDLAND HAWTHORN – Crataegus laevigata: [ 23 & 51 ]
Grows to 8m with brown-grey bark that has knots and fissures. Twigs are covered in thorns and dark green leaves have 3 lobes and are up to 6cm long. The flowers can be creamy-white, pink or red with 5 petals. They contain both male and female parts and appear mid-April in clusters. Pollinated by insects the flowers become red fruits called haws which contain two seeds. The haws are eaten by birds and some mammals. The dense tree is also a good place to nest. A popular hedging plant the wood is very hard and used for handles and walking sticks. The haws are used in jellies, chutneys and wine.
PLYMOUTH PEAR – Pyrus cordata : [ 36 & 70 ]
Growing 8 to 10m with purplish twigs and varied shaped leaves. Pale pink to cream flowers appear in late April. The beautiful blossom has a foul smell said to be like rotting scampi and attracts mainly flies. The fruits are small, round and hard. The fruits are eaten by blackbirds and other wildlife. Named after where it was found it is a rare tree found mainly in Devon and Cornwall.
PURPLE WILLOW – Salix purpurea: [ 25 & 54 ]
A small bushy alluvial willow growing up to 5metres. The bark has a very bitter taste. Shoots straight, shiny, hairless and purplish useful for weaving. Leaves narrow to broadly oblong, dull bluish green and scarcely toothed. Catkins are large, reddish or purple tinged, appearing before the leaves and used for decoration as well as useful nectar/pollen sources. Distributed in most lowlands throughout the UK.
ROWAN – Sorbus aucuparia: [ 5 ]
The rowan, also known as the mountain ash, can grow up to 15m. The bark is smooth and silvery, and the leaves are feather like with 8 pairs of leaflets plus an end leaflet making up one leaf. The tree has creamy white flowers in spring which become orangey red berries by autumn. The flowers provide pollen to insects and bees and the red seeds are eaten and spread by birds especially blackbirds, thrushes and waxwings. The berries can also be made into a jelly to eat with meat. The wood is sometimes used in craftwork and is strong but not very durable.
SCOTS PINE – Pinus Sylvestris: [ 15 & 68 ]
This evergreen grows to a height of 40m. The bark is thick and brown and cracks as the tree grows. It has needle shaped leaves and older ones die and fall off all year. Fir cones start off hard and green and after a year become wooden and brown, in dry weather the scales open to release the seeds. In damp weather the cones close. Scots pine is one of the strongest soft woods available and is used to make telegraph poles, fence posts and can be tapped to obtain turpentine.
SESSILE OAK – Quercus petraea: [ 2 ]
This oak has stalked leaves and stalkless (sessile) acorns and keeps it’s dried leaves over winter. It can grow to over 20m tall and is often found in hilly places. Male flowers are catkins and female flowers resemble red flower buds. Acorns start out green and turn brown and are eaten by jays, squirrels and badgers.
SILVER BIRCH – Betula pendula: [ 45 ]
This common tree grows to a height of 20m. It is easily recognised by its bark which becomes white and marked with knots as it gets older, the outer layers of bark can peel off in strips. The leaves are triangular shaped, green and around 3cm long. The flowers appear after the leaves and the tree’s catkins separate into fruits after fertilisation. The tree is home to many species of insects and attracts aphids which are great for ladybirds. They are also good for moths; the seeds are eaten by siskins and greenfinches and the woodpecker also likes to nest in silver birch trees.
SMALL-LEAVED LIME – Tilia cordata: [ 47 ]
Grows to more than 20m. Grey-brown bark develops flaky plates as it ages. The brown-red twigs look shiny in sunlight and the heart shaped leaves develop red hairs at the joint with the twig. Green-yellow flowers contain male and female parts and hang in clusters of up to 10. After insect pollination smooth, round, fruits develop. Lime leaves attract aphids and their predators like hover flies and ladybirds. Flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects. Caterpillars of the triangle and scare hook-tip moth also eat lime leaves. The wood is used to make piano keys as it doesn’t warp, and the bark was traditionally used to make rope.
SPINDLE TREE – Euonymus europaeus: [ 11 ]
Growing to 9m this deciduous tree can live 100 years. The bark and twigs are deep green and develop corky light brown markings. Sharp toothed, waxy leaves turn orange-red in autumn before falling. Flowers have male and female parts and four petals. In May and June, the clusters of flowers are insect pollinated. The bright pink fruits develop with bright orange seeds. The leaves are eaten by several moth caterpillars and the holly blue butterfly. Aphids also like the leaves which also bring predators like lacewings, ladybirds and hoverflies. As the name suggests the tree was used to make spindle and bobbins, also knitting needles and pegs. The fruits used to be treated and turned into cures for headlice and mange in cattle.
STRAWBERRY TREE – Arbutus unedo: [ 39 ]
An evergreen tree growing to about 10-12m. This tree now only grows in Ireland though evidence shows it may have reached into Wales in the past. It produces small, creamy-white, urn-shaped flowers that produce a sweet nectar. The ‘strawberries’ are edible however the scientific name gives the game away – unedo means ‘I eat one’ (and I might add only one!) Mainly used for making gunpowder and charcoal the attractive wood has also been used for inlay work and the bark for tannin.
SWEET CHESTNUT – castanea sativa: [ 42 ]
A deciduous tree that grows to 35m and can live for 700 years. The grey-purple bark develops vertical fissures, which spiral upwards, as the tree ages. 16-28 cm long and 5-9cm wide, the leaves have loose toothed edges and a pointy tip with around 20 pairs of parallel veins. The flowers contain male and female parts, most of the long, yellow catkins are male, while female parts are at the base. Insects pollinate the tree and then the female parts develop into the shiny brown nuts surrounded by a spiky green case. Red squirrels like to eat the nuts and the catkins provide pollen for insects. Many micro moths eat the foliage. The wood is used in carpentry and furniture. Sweet chestnuts can be roasted and used in poultry stuffing, nut roasts and have a high level of starch.
WAYFARING TREE – Viburnum lantana: [ 10 ]
More of a shrub it grows to 5m. It has large, oval, slightly wrinkly leaves with round toothed edges. The underside of a leaf is covered with soft, grey hairs. Lots of small, creamy white flowers group together in a large, flat topped flowerhead called an umbel. The 5 petalled flowers are scented and once pollinated turn into red berries. The oval berries then turn black and are poisonous. Birds eat the berries and insects, such as hoverflies, feed on the nectar. Traditionally the bendy stalks were used to tie hay bales and its straight wood used to make arrows.
WHITE WILLOW – Salix alba: [ 30 & 58 ]
The largest willow it grows to 25m with grey-brown bark that becomes deeply fissured as it ages. Twigs are also grey-brown and the slender leaves are lighter than other willows with fine white hairs on the underside. Male catkins grow on different trees to the female and are slightly longer at 4-5cm. Insects pollinate the female catkins which develop tiny, fluffy seed capsules, dispersed by wind. Caterpillars eat the leaves and the catkins provide nectar and pollen for many insects. As with other willow it is a source of salicin which is used as a painkiller. The cricket bat willow is the variety, Salix alba var.caerulea, having a particularly vigorous, straight trunk. Female trees are best for making cricket bats.
WHITEBEAM – Sorbus aria: [ 14 & 65 ]
Can grow to 15m with grey bark and twigs. The shoots look brick red in sunlight but grey-green in the shade. Leaves are thick, oval and irregularly toothed around the edges. The underside has white, feltlike hair. When leaves open they resemble magnolia flowers before turning dark green and shiny on top. In autumn they turn russet before they fall. In May, five-petalled flowers containing both male and female parts, are pollinated by insects. The flower clusters develop into scarlet red berries as they ripen in late summer. Pollinating insects visit the flowers, birds eat the berries and moth caterpillars eat the leaves. The timber is fine and traditionally used for cogs and wheels in machinery, beams and fine furniture.
WHITTY PEAR – Sorbus domestica: [ 74 ]
Also known as the ‘Whitty Pear’ it is superficially similar to the rowan in both size and appearance, however it has a fissured rather than smooth bark and the leaflets number seven as opposed to twelve to fifteen in rowan. The flowers with pink flushed petals are larger than those of the Rowan and the fruit is also larger and longer, though smaller than cultivated pears. On the continent the fruit is sometimes used to make perry, however no indications of such usage appear in the UK. Dried bunches of fruit have been used to keep witches away.
WILD CHERRY – Prunus avium: [ 12 ]
Grows to 30m and has a deep reddish-brown shiny bark. Cream coloured horizontal lines, called lenticels, are found on the bark. Green, oval leaves grow up to 15cm long, with toothed edges and a pointed tip. In autumn the leaves fade to orange and deep red. Male and female reproductive parts are in the same flower and appear in April. The flowers are white, five petalled and grow cup shaped 8 to 15mm across. They hang in clusters and are loved by bees and other insects which help to pollinate the tree. The flowers become smooth, deep red cherries and are eaten by birds and mice. Foliage is a main food source for several moth caterpillars including the cherry fruit and cherry bark moths. Traditionally cherry was planted for it’s fruit and wood which is used to make veneers and furniture. It smells sweet when burned.
WILD PEAR – Pyrus pyraster: [ 49 ]
Deciduous and growing to 12m the pear tree has grey bark with a square-shaped pattern and very spiny twigs. The oval leaves grow on long stalks and turn from green to gold to black in autumn. White flowers are formed in clusters approx. 3cm across. Fruits grow on long stalks and turn golden yellow as they ripen. The sweet pears are eaten by blackbirds and thrushes. The flowers provide nectar in spring and caterpillars live in the foliage. Pears can be eaten raw and cooked, they also make cider. The pearwood is made into musical instruments and spoons.
WILD SERVICE TREE – Sorbus torminalis: [ 44 ]
A deciduous broadleaf tree growing to 25m. The brown bark is patterned with cracked, square shapes whilst twigs are shiny and slender. Leaf buds look like small green peas on short stalks. They develop into a maple type leaf which turns coppery red before falling in autumn. Male and female parts are contained in the white flowers which form in clusters. Once pollinated by insects the flowers develop into green-brown oval fruits sometimes called chequers. They grow to 10-15mm with small, pale spots. Pollen is taken by insects and birds like the fruits. Moth caterpillars also eat the leaves. The finegrained wood has not been widely used although the fruits can add flavour to alcoholic drinks like whisky.
WYCH ELM – Ulmus glabra: [ 3 ]
Grows to 30m in height with smooth grey bark that develops deep fissures after 20 years and becomes more grey-brown. Leaf buds and twigs are covered in orange hairs. The green leaves have an asymmetrical base and are larger than other elm,s growing up to 16cm in length with a toothed edge and a tapered point at the top. Flowers contain male and female parts and appear before the leaves in spring. They are purply red and grow along the twigs in clusters of 10 to 20. Wind pollinates the flowers which become fruits called samaras. The seed is situated in the centre of the wing and they are dispersed by the wind. Decimated by Dutch elm disease it is now a rare tree. Caterpillars of the whiteletter hairstreak butterfly feed on the leaves and numbers have declined dramatically due to the rarity now. Many birds eat elm seeds. The wood is strong and durable and was used for boat parts, floorboards and wheel hubs.
YEW – Taxus baccata: [ 19 & 62 ]
This evergreen grows to a height of 10m and has flat needles. Birds eat the red berries and drop the seed. The leaves and seeds are poisonous to animals. The wood was used in medieval times to make longbows which allowed archers to fire arrows over long distances. Yew trees are often found in church yards and can live for up to 3000 years.
Grows to 20m with dark bark often covered in lichen. Dark green racket shaped leaves are 3 to 9 cm long with serrated edges. The long, dangling male catkins appear in spring. Female catkins grow in summer as small green knots which dry as they develop, turning black before the tiny fruits fall out. Seeds are eaten by siskins and greenfinches and some moths live on alders. The wood can be used for plywood.
ALDER BUCKTHORN - Frangula alnus: [ 9 ]
Grows to over 6m with dark brown bark. Branches are smooth and thorn less, the leaves are 3 to 7cm long, matt green and slightly hairy. Greenish white, star shaped flowers contain male and female parts and appear in clusters during May and June. The leaves are the favourite food of the brimstone butterfly. Birds like the berries that develop later in the year. Various parts of the tree are used to make dyes.
ALMOND WILLOW – salix triandra: [ 43 ]
A small bushy alluvial willow growing rapidly a first but seldom reaching more than 10metre. Smooth, flaking, brown bark, lanceolate, toothed, hairless, dark, shiny-green leaves. Large catkins useful as a pollen/nectar source. Locally common in the UK widely used in the Trent Valley willow industry. It is only identifiable as basketmakers' cultivars and its natural status may be questionable. A particularly attractive and fragrant species - the twigs have a faint rose-water flavour when chewed.
ASH – Fraxinus excelsior: [ 24 ]
Grows to 35m with a pale grey-brown bark. Leaves have 3 to 6 pairs of pale green, oval leaflets that grow opposite each other with one on the end, this is called a pinnate compound leaf. Male and female flowers grow often on different trees and are purple, spiked clusters which appear before the leaves. The female flowers are wind pollinated and form ‘keys’ which are dropped over winter and spring. Bullfinches eat the seeds and woodpeckers and owls like to nest in the trees. The leaves are food to many varieties of moth. A very tough wood, with shock absorbing qualities it is used as handles on tools like axes and for furniture.
ASPEN – Populus tremula: [ 50 ]
Grows to 25m with shimmering foliage. The grey bark can be very dark and covered in lichens. The leaves start out coppery before turning green. The flattened, flexible leaf stalks making it easy for them to flutter in the breeze. Catkins grow in March and April with male and females on different trees. Female catkins ripen to produce fluffy seeds. Aspen trees attract a wide variety of insects. The wood’s low flammability is favoured for making matches and its lightness is good for oars and paddles.
BASKET WILLOW – Salix viminalis: [ 8 ]
Grows to 7m with greyish-brown bark and yellow-green twigs. Leaves are 20cm long and 1cm wide, glossy and dark green. Underneath they’re covered in felt-like grey hairs. Male, yellow and female, green catkins develop on different plants and arrive in late winter before the leaves. After pollination the female catkins split to release tiny seeds. Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves and the catkins provide pollen to bees and other insects. This willow is great for basket weaving, screens and sculptures. It is also able to absorb heavy metals so is often used to help clean up industrial sites.
BAY WILLOW – Salix pentandra: [ 16 & 57 ]
Grows to 18m and the dark grey bark has criss cross ridges. It is named because of the similarity of the leaves to the bay tree. Dark green and glossy the leaves are approx. 5 to 12 cm long with finely serrated edges. Yellow, male catkins and green female catkins grow on different trees and emerge after the leaves, in late spring. Female catkins develop into a fruit capsule containing tiny fluffy seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Several caterpillars of moths eat the leaves and the catkin pollen is an early source of protein for bees and other insects. Salicin is a compound found in the bark of willows and has long been used as a pain killer, indeed Aspirin is derived from salicin.
BEECH – Fagus sylvatica: [ 40 ]
Grows to over 30m but has shallow roots so can be blown over. Fruits develop as beech nuts called mast and are contained in a prickly case. Beech leaves are eaten by caterpillars and the mast is enjoyed by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. Beech wood is hard and used for parquet floors and furniture.
BIRD CHERRY – Prunus padus: [ 29 & 52 ]
Also known as black dogwood and hogberry it grows to 25m. The bark is smooth, peeling and grey brown. The green leaves are oval, hairless and have fine sharp, serrated edges. Clusters of white, heavily scented flowers appear in April. They contain male and female parts and after pollination develop into red-black bitter cherries. The nectar is great for bees and the cherries are eaten by birds, badgers and mice. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars but toxic to livestock. Fruits and bark have been used to make dyes and the wood is light and good for making small items. The cherries have also been used in several medicinal remedies in the past.
BLACK POPLAR – Populus nigra ssp.betulifolia: [ 34 &72 ]
Grows to 30m and can live for 200 years, this tree is becoming rarer in the countryside. Dark brown bark often looks black and is full of fissures and cracks. Leaves are shiney, green and heart shaped with fine, tiny hairs. Red male catkins and green-yellow female catkins grow on different trees and are wind pollinated. The females develop fluffy seeds which fall in autumn. The catkins also provide pollen for bees while birds eat the seeds. It is the food plant for many moths including the poplar hawk moth. The fine, white wood was used to make cartwheels and floorboards. It can be coppiced so also provides bean sticks and clothes pegs.
BLACKTHORN – Prunus spinosa: [ 27 & 69 ]
Spiny and dense the tree grows to 6 or 7 m with dark brown bark. Commonly used as a hedging plant. Green leaves are slightly wrinkled, oval with a pointed end. White flowers contain male and female parts and bloom in March and April. They develop into blue-black berries or sloes. Bees enjoy the nectar, caterpillars of many moths eat the leaves and the birds like to nest in the blackthorn and eat the caterpillars and the sloes. The timber is traditionally used for walking sticks and the sloes are used in wines, preserves and to make sloe gin.
BOX – Buxus sempervirens: [ 46 ]
Slow growing box is used extensively in gardens clipped into topiary and hedges. It can grow to 12m with smooth grey bark that develops fissures with age. Small, oval, waxy, green leaves grow on short stalks. Clusters of green-yellow flowers are produced in April and May. They contain male and female parts which are wind pollinated. A green, dry capsule develops which ripens into a brown seed case. The box is liked by bees and provides dense shelter for small mammals and birds. The yellow timber is used to make violin pegs and musical instruments. It is toxic and may cause stomach upsets and skin irritation.
BUCKTHORN – Rhamnus carthartica: [ 33 & 60 ]
Grows to 10m with grey-brown bark and spiny branches. Leaves are dark green and glossy, turning yellow in autumn. Yellow-green flowers are pollinated by insects which travel between the male and female flowers on different trees. The females develop into purple-black berries which are eaten and dispersed by birds. It is a food plant to the brimstone butterfly and provides nectar to bees and other insects. The wood is rarely used although the fruits and bark can make a yellow dye. The berries have a laxative effect giving it the name purging blackthorn.
COMMON OAK – Quercus robur: [ 41 ]
Most full-grown oaks reach a height of 30m. The bark is smooth and silvery in young trees and becomes more deeply fissured with age. The leaves are smooth and around 10cm long with 4 to 5 lobes on each side. Oaks form catkins in the spring and the acorn fruits develop from green to brown before loosening from the cup and falling to the ground in autumn. The timber of the English oak is very strong and used to build boats, architectural beams and barrels. Oaks provide habitat for hundreds of insects and the acorns are eaten by mammals like badgers, deer and squirrels. Woodpeckers and bats can also live in the trees.
COPPER BEECH – fagus sylvatica f. purpurea: [ 1 ]
A cultivated form of the common beech. Grows to over 30m but has shallow roots so can be blown over. Deep purple leaves develop in spring and turn coppery in autumn. Fruits develop as beech nuts called mast and are contained in a prickly case. Beech leaves are eaten by caterpillars and the mast is enjoyed by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. The bark is often home to fungi and lichen. Beech wood is hard and used for furniture. It was traditionally used to smoke herring.
CRAB APPLE – Malus Sylvestris: [ 17 & 66 ]
Grow gnarled and twisted to 10m with a greyish brown bark. Ancestor of the many varieties of apple trees. Pointy brown leaf stubs develop on short stalks and have hairy tips. They grow into glossy, green, 6cm leaves. The blossom is sweetly scented attracting bees and other insects to pollinate it. The small apple like buds develop to around 3cm yellow-green fruits. Birds and mammals eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. The nectar and pollen are great for bees and the leaves are eaten by several moth caterpillars. Trees are planted to help pollinate other apples and the fruits are used in jams and jellies. The wood is pinkish in colour and is used in turning and carving.
CRACK WILLOW – Salix fragilis: [ 6 ]
The crack willow grows to 25m tall and is hard to tell apart from the white willow. The bark is dark brown and develops deep fissures with age. The leaves are long and dark green on the top and a lighter green underneath. The catkins arrive before the leaves and once pollinated become fluffy ‘pussy willow’. Trees tend to grow alongside rivers and lakes. The catkins provide pollen for bees and other insects and the leaves are used by some moths. The willow stems are very flexible and are used for weaving a huge variety of useful objects including baskets.
DEVON WHITEBEAM – Sorbus devoniensis: [ 35 & 71 ]
Grows to 13m with brown bark. The lobed leaves are dark green on top with white hairs underneath. White 5 petal flowers develop in May to June and male and female parts are found on the same plant. Orange-brown seeds ripen to fruits in September. The russet red fruits are eaten by birds and dispersed. Also known as otmast it is usually only found in Devon and the South West. It is often found in hedgerows. It can be eaten with a medlar-like date flavour.
DOWNY BIRCH – Betula pubescens: [ 31 & 64 ]
Grows to 30m with grey-white bark. Triangular green leaves are slightly rounded at the base and formed on hairy/downy stalks. Long male brown-yellow catkins form from May to June. Female catkins appear on the same trees, smaller and short green forms that once pollinated, thicken and change to dark crimson. Masses of tiny seeds are wind dispersed in autumn. Provides a habitat for many species of insects, home for woodpeckers and seeds for redpolls and siskin birds. The wood is tough and used for handles and furniture. The sap can be made into drinks and the bark is used for tanning leather.
ELDER – Sambucus nigra: [ 18 & 55 ]
Grows to around 15m and has corky grey-brown bark. Leaves are pinnate with 5 to 7 oval leaflets. Creamy white flowers with five petals form a large flat flower head with a strong smell. Insects pollinate the flowers which then turn into clusters of small red-black berries. The flowers provide food for bees and other insects while birds and small mammals eat the berries. Moth caterpillars also eat the leaves. The flowers are used to make cordials and champagne while the berries are used in wine and tinctures. The bark, leaves, flowers and berries also make dyes and were traditionally used to colour Harris tweed.
ENGLISH ELM – Ulmus procera: [ 4 ]
Mature trees grow to 30m although since Dutch Elm disease they are now often part of hedgerows. The bark is grey brown, fissured and rough. Green leaves are round to oval, rough and hairy to touch and they can be 4-9 cm long. Dark pink flowers contain both male and female parts and hang in tassels in February and March. Pollinated by the wind the flowers turn into samaras, tiny winged fruits that are dispersed by the wind. Many birds and mammals eat the seeds and the leaves are food for both moth and butterfly caterpillars. The wood is strong and durable and can be used to make many things from floorboards to coffins.
FIELD MAPLE – Acer campestre: [ 38 & 63 ]
Grows to 20m and lives up to 350 years. The bark is light brown and flaky and small grey leaf buds grown on long stems. The leaves are 5 lobed, small, dark green and shiny. The small flowers form in cup shaped clusters and are yellow-green. The flowers are insect pollinated and then develop into pink tinged, wing shaped fruits, wind dispersed. The tree is attractive to aphids which in turn brings ladybirds, hover flies and birds. The wood is good for making musical instruments, especially harps. The tree is also a great pollution fighter.
GOAT WILLOW – Salix caprea: [ 32 & 59 ]
Grows to 10m and has grey-brown bark with fissures. Unlike other willows, the leaves are oval, they are hairy underneath and tips point to one side at the end. Known as the pussy willow due to the appearance of the grey male catkins, female catkins grow on separate trees and are longer and greener. After wind pollination the female catkins develop fluffy seeds that are blown away. The trees can also propagate themselves by lowering branches into the ground where they root. Foliage is eaten by several moth caterpillars and is the main food for the purple emperor butterfly. Bees enjoy the nectar and birds will forage the tree for insects. Goat willow is more brittle than others so not used for weaving but does make excellent charcoal.
GREY WILLOW – Salix cinerea: [ 26 & 53 ]
Grows to 10m and is very similar to the goat willow. Grey-brown bark with fissures and twigs that can appear red-yellow. Leaves are oval approx. twice the length of the width. They are white and felty underneath with rusty hairs along the veins. Catkins grow on different trees; males are grey and oval;
females are longer and green. Wind pollination turns the female catkins into woolly seeds. Eaten by caterpillars and foraged by birds, providing nectar in the spring and the food plant for the purple emperor butterfly. As with other willow it is a source of salicin which is used as a painkiller.
HAWTHORN - Crataegus monogyna: [ 7 ]
Grows to 15m with brown-grey bark that has knots and fissures. Twigs are covered in thorns and green leaves are deeply lobed and up to 6cm long. The highly scented flowers can be white or sometimes tinged pink with 5 petals. They contain both male and female parts and appear in May in flat topped clusters. Pollinated by insects the flowers become red fruits called haws and contain 1 seed. Bees and insects enjoy the pollen and nectar while many caterpillars live on hawthorn. The haws are a good source of antioxidants for birds and some mammals. The dense tree is also a good place to nest. A popular hedging plant the wood is very hard and burns at high temperatures. Young leaves, buds and flowers are all edible.
HAZEL – Corylus avellane: [ 22 & 61 ]
Hazel is a tree growing to a height of 12m. Its bark is smooth grey-brown. The leaves are big and soft to the touch due to the hairy underside. In early spring you will find male catkins. These wind pollinate the diminutive female flowers which ripen into hazel nuts in October. The nuts are eaten by birds including woodpeckers, tits and jays plus animals. Hazel leaves provide food for many moths and the catkins are an early source of pollen for bees. Hazel sticks are popular with gardeners who use them to support peas and beans.
HOLLY – Ilex aquifolium: [ 13 ]
This evergreen can grow in a bush or a tree 10m high. The bark is hard to see but smooth and thin with brown ‘warts’ and the stems are brown. The leaves are dark green, glossy and spikey. Holly consists of male and female trees although some have been seen to change over time. The fruits become bright red and stay on the branches through winter and birds are fond of the berries. Boughs of holly are often used to decorate homes at Christmas.
HORNBEAM – Carpinus betulus: [ 28 & 56 ]
Grows to 30m with pale grey bark which has vertical markings. Green oval leaves with pointed tips they look pleated due to the deep furrows. They turn yellow to orange in autumn and most stay all winter. Male and female catkins grow on the same tree and are wind pollinated. The female catkins swell into papery winged seeds called samaras. Hornbeam is home to many creatures that can sheeter among the leaves in winter. Several moth caterpillars eat the foliage while birds eat the seeds. The wood is the hardest of any wood, it’s used in furniture, chopping blocks and cogs in windmills and watermills.
JUNIPER – Juniperus communis: [ 21 & 67 ]
This evergreen conifer can grow up to 10m. Grey-brown bark peels with age and has ridged, red twigs. The pointed needles have a silver band on the inner side. Small, yellow, male flowers grow on separate trees to the female. Wind pollinates the green female flowers which develop into purple, juniper berries. The berries are eaten by birds and dispersed. Providing dense cover for birds like the goldcrest and firecrest. It is a food plant for moth caterpillars and the berries are eaten by birds like thrushes and fieldfares. The berries are famous for flavouring gin and juniper essential oil is used in aromatherapy.
LARGE-LEAVED LIME – Tilia platyphyllos: [ 48 ]
The rarest of the native limes with dark, grey-brown bark which develops flaky plates as it ages. The grey-green twigs look reddish in sunlight and the heart shaped leaves are hairy all over. Green-yellow flowers contain male and female parts and hang in clusters of up to 10. After insect pollination smooth, round, fruits develop. Lime leaves attract aphids and their predators. Flowers provide nectar and pollen and bees also drink the honey dew produced by the aphids. Caterpillars of the lime hawk, peppered and vapourer moth also eat lime leaves. The wood is used to make piano keys as it doesn’t warp, and the bark was traditionally used to make rope.
MIDLAND HAWTHORN – Crataegus laevigata: [ 23 & 51 ]
Grows to 8m with brown-grey bark that has knots and fissures. Twigs are covered in thorns and dark green leaves have 3 lobes and are up to 6cm long. The flowers can be creamy-white, pink or red with 5 petals. They contain both male and female parts and appear mid-April in clusters. Pollinated by insects the flowers become red fruits called haws which contain two seeds. The haws are eaten by birds and some mammals. The dense tree is also a good place to nest. A popular hedging plant the wood is very hard and used for handles and walking sticks. The haws are used in jellies, chutneys and wine.
PLYMOUTH PEAR – Pyrus cordata : [ 36 & 70 ]
Growing 8 to 10m with purplish twigs and varied shaped leaves. Pale pink to cream flowers appear in late April. The beautiful blossom has a foul smell said to be like rotting scampi and attracts mainly flies. The fruits are small, round and hard. The fruits are eaten by blackbirds and other wildlife. Named after where it was found it is a rare tree found mainly in Devon and Cornwall.
PURPLE WILLOW – Salix purpurea: [ 25 & 54 ]
A small bushy alluvial willow growing up to 5metres. The bark has a very bitter taste. Shoots straight, shiny, hairless and purplish useful for weaving. Leaves narrow to broadly oblong, dull bluish green and scarcely toothed. Catkins are large, reddish or purple tinged, appearing before the leaves and used for decoration as well as useful nectar/pollen sources. Distributed in most lowlands throughout the UK.
ROWAN – Sorbus aucuparia: [ 5 ]
The rowan, also known as the mountain ash, can grow up to 15m. The bark is smooth and silvery, and the leaves are feather like with 8 pairs of leaflets plus an end leaflet making up one leaf. The tree has creamy white flowers in spring which become orangey red berries by autumn. The flowers provide pollen to insects and bees and the red seeds are eaten and spread by birds especially blackbirds, thrushes and waxwings. The berries can also be made into a jelly to eat with meat. The wood is sometimes used in craftwork and is strong but not very durable.
SCOTS PINE – Pinus Sylvestris: [ 15 & 68 ]
This evergreen grows to a height of 40m. The bark is thick and brown and cracks as the tree grows. It has needle shaped leaves and older ones die and fall off all year. Fir cones start off hard and green and after a year become wooden and brown, in dry weather the scales open to release the seeds. In damp weather the cones close. Scots pine is one of the strongest soft woods available and is used to make telegraph poles, fence posts and can be tapped to obtain turpentine.
SESSILE OAK – Quercus petraea: [ 2 ]
This oak has stalked leaves and stalkless (sessile) acorns and keeps it’s dried leaves over winter. It can grow to over 20m tall and is often found in hilly places. Male flowers are catkins and female flowers resemble red flower buds. Acorns start out green and turn brown and are eaten by jays, squirrels and badgers.
SILVER BIRCH – Betula pendula: [ 45 ]
This common tree grows to a height of 20m. It is easily recognised by its bark which becomes white and marked with knots as it gets older, the outer layers of bark can peel off in strips. The leaves are triangular shaped, green and around 3cm long. The flowers appear after the leaves and the tree’s catkins separate into fruits after fertilisation. The tree is home to many species of insects and attracts aphids which are great for ladybirds. They are also good for moths; the seeds are eaten by siskins and greenfinches and the woodpecker also likes to nest in silver birch trees.
SMALL-LEAVED LIME – Tilia cordata: [ 47 ]
Grows to more than 20m. Grey-brown bark develops flaky plates as it ages. The brown-red twigs look shiny in sunlight and the heart shaped leaves develop red hairs at the joint with the twig. Green-yellow flowers contain male and female parts and hang in clusters of up to 10. After insect pollination smooth, round, fruits develop. Lime leaves attract aphids and their predators like hover flies and ladybirds. Flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects. Caterpillars of the triangle and scare hook-tip moth also eat lime leaves. The wood is used to make piano keys as it doesn’t warp, and the bark was traditionally used to make rope.
SPINDLE TREE – Euonymus europaeus: [ 11 ]
Growing to 9m this deciduous tree can live 100 years. The bark and twigs are deep green and develop corky light brown markings. Sharp toothed, waxy leaves turn orange-red in autumn before falling. Flowers have male and female parts and four petals. In May and June, the clusters of flowers are insect pollinated. The bright pink fruits develop with bright orange seeds. The leaves are eaten by several moth caterpillars and the holly blue butterfly. Aphids also like the leaves which also bring predators like lacewings, ladybirds and hoverflies. As the name suggests the tree was used to make spindle and bobbins, also knitting needles and pegs. The fruits used to be treated and turned into cures for headlice and mange in cattle.
STRAWBERRY TREE – Arbutus unedo: [ 39 ]
An evergreen tree growing to about 10-12m. This tree now only grows in Ireland though evidence shows it may have reached into Wales in the past. It produces small, creamy-white, urn-shaped flowers that produce a sweet nectar. The ‘strawberries’ are edible however the scientific name gives the game away – unedo means ‘I eat one’ (and I might add only one!) Mainly used for making gunpowder and charcoal the attractive wood has also been used for inlay work and the bark for tannin.
SWEET CHESTNUT – castanea sativa: [ 42 ]
A deciduous tree that grows to 35m and can live for 700 years. The grey-purple bark develops vertical fissures, which spiral upwards, as the tree ages. 16-28 cm long and 5-9cm wide, the leaves have loose toothed edges and a pointy tip with around 20 pairs of parallel veins. The flowers contain male and female parts, most of the long, yellow catkins are male, while female parts are at the base. Insects pollinate the tree and then the female parts develop into the shiny brown nuts surrounded by a spiky green case. Red squirrels like to eat the nuts and the catkins provide pollen for insects. Many micro moths eat the foliage. The wood is used in carpentry and furniture. Sweet chestnuts can be roasted and used in poultry stuffing, nut roasts and have a high level of starch.
WAYFARING TREE – Viburnum lantana: [ 10 ]
More of a shrub it grows to 5m. It has large, oval, slightly wrinkly leaves with round toothed edges. The underside of a leaf is covered with soft, grey hairs. Lots of small, creamy white flowers group together in a large, flat topped flowerhead called an umbel. The 5 petalled flowers are scented and once pollinated turn into red berries. The oval berries then turn black and are poisonous. Birds eat the berries and insects, such as hoverflies, feed on the nectar. Traditionally the bendy stalks were used to tie hay bales and its straight wood used to make arrows.
WHITE WILLOW – Salix alba: [ 30 & 58 ]
The largest willow it grows to 25m with grey-brown bark that becomes deeply fissured as it ages. Twigs are also grey-brown and the slender leaves are lighter than other willows with fine white hairs on the underside. Male catkins grow on different trees to the female and are slightly longer at 4-5cm. Insects pollinate the female catkins which develop tiny, fluffy seed capsules, dispersed by wind. Caterpillars eat the leaves and the catkins provide nectar and pollen for many insects. As with other willow it is a source of salicin which is used as a painkiller. The cricket bat willow is the variety, Salix alba var.caerulea, having a particularly vigorous, straight trunk. Female trees are best for making cricket bats.
WHITEBEAM – Sorbus aria: [ 14 & 65 ]
Can grow to 15m with grey bark and twigs. The shoots look brick red in sunlight but grey-green in the shade. Leaves are thick, oval and irregularly toothed around the edges. The underside has white, feltlike hair. When leaves open they resemble magnolia flowers before turning dark green and shiny on top. In autumn they turn russet before they fall. In May, five-petalled flowers containing both male and female parts, are pollinated by insects. The flower clusters develop into scarlet red berries as they ripen in late summer. Pollinating insects visit the flowers, birds eat the berries and moth caterpillars eat the leaves. The timber is fine and traditionally used for cogs and wheels in machinery, beams and fine furniture.
WHITTY PEAR – Sorbus domestica: [ 74 ]
Also known as the ‘Whitty Pear’ it is superficially similar to the rowan in both size and appearance, however it has a fissured rather than smooth bark and the leaflets number seven as opposed to twelve to fifteen in rowan. The flowers with pink flushed petals are larger than those of the Rowan and the fruit is also larger and longer, though smaller than cultivated pears. On the continent the fruit is sometimes used to make perry, however no indications of such usage appear in the UK. Dried bunches of fruit have been used to keep witches away.
WILD CHERRY – Prunus avium: [ 12 ]
Grows to 30m and has a deep reddish-brown shiny bark. Cream coloured horizontal lines, called lenticels, are found on the bark. Green, oval leaves grow up to 15cm long, with toothed edges and a pointed tip. In autumn the leaves fade to orange and deep red. Male and female reproductive parts are in the same flower and appear in April. The flowers are white, five petalled and grow cup shaped 8 to 15mm across. They hang in clusters and are loved by bees and other insects which help to pollinate the tree. The flowers become smooth, deep red cherries and are eaten by birds and mice. Foliage is a main food source for several moth caterpillars including the cherry fruit and cherry bark moths. Traditionally cherry was planted for it’s fruit and wood which is used to make veneers and furniture. It smells sweet when burned.
WILD PEAR – Pyrus pyraster: [ 49 ]
Deciduous and growing to 12m the pear tree has grey bark with a square-shaped pattern and very spiny twigs. The oval leaves grow on long stalks and turn from green to gold to black in autumn. White flowers are formed in clusters approx. 3cm across. Fruits grow on long stalks and turn golden yellow as they ripen. The sweet pears are eaten by blackbirds and thrushes. The flowers provide nectar in spring and caterpillars live in the foliage. Pears can be eaten raw and cooked, they also make cider. The pearwood is made into musical instruments and spoons.
WILD SERVICE TREE – Sorbus torminalis: [ 44 ]
A deciduous broadleaf tree growing to 25m. The brown bark is patterned with cracked, square shapes whilst twigs are shiny and slender. Leaf buds look like small green peas on short stalks. They develop into a maple type leaf which turns coppery red before falling in autumn. Male and female parts are contained in the white flowers which form in clusters. Once pollinated by insects the flowers develop into green-brown oval fruits sometimes called chequers. They grow to 10-15mm with small, pale spots. Pollen is taken by insects and birds like the fruits. Moth caterpillars also eat the leaves. The finegrained wood has not been widely used although the fruits can add flavour to alcoholic drinks like whisky.
WYCH ELM – Ulmus glabra: [ 3 ]
Grows to 30m in height with smooth grey bark that develops deep fissures after 20 years and becomes more grey-brown. Leaf buds and twigs are covered in orange hairs. The green leaves have an asymmetrical base and are larger than other elm,s growing up to 16cm in length with a toothed edge and a tapered point at the top. Flowers contain male and female parts and appear before the leaves in spring. They are purply red and grow along the twigs in clusters of 10 to 20. Wind pollinates the flowers which become fruits called samaras. The seed is situated in the centre of the wing and they are dispersed by the wind. Decimated by Dutch elm disease it is now a rare tree. Caterpillars of the whiteletter hairstreak butterfly feed on the leaves and numbers have declined dramatically due to the rarity now. Many birds eat elm seeds. The wood is strong and durable and was used for boat parts, floorboards and wheel hubs.
YEW – Taxus baccata: [ 19 & 62 ]
This evergreen grows to a height of 10m and has flat needles. Birds eat the red berries and drop the seed. The leaves and seeds are poisonous to animals. The wood was used in medieval times to make longbows which allowed archers to fire arrows over long distances. Yew trees are often found in church yards and can live for up to 3000 years.
