Goat Willow
Goat Willow is a large shrub willow found in ditches, reedbeds, wet woodland and urban waste ground. It is one of the UK's commonest willows and is known for the fluffy, silver-grey male catkins - or 'pussy willows' - that appear in January and turn bright yellow in March.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many wetland nature reserves for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife, including trees such as willows. But these precious sites are under threat from development, drainage and climate change. You can help by supporting your local Trust and becoming a member; you'll find out about exciting wildlife happenings, events on your doorstep and volunteering opportunities, and be helping local wildlife along the way.
Crack Willow
Crack Willow is a large willow tree found along riverbanks, around lakes and in wet woodland. It is often planted alongside rivers and dykes to stabilise their banks and dykes, and is usually pollarded to allow light through to the water. These pollards can be contorted and gnarled, and often so full of crevices that other species start to grow from them such as Ash and Holly. Crack Willow is so-named because its trunk can grow so fast that it is liable to split open under its own weight.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many wetland nature reserves for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife, including trees such as willows. But these precious sites are under threat from development, drainage and climate change. You can help by supporting your local Trust and becoming a member; you'll find out about exciting wildlife happenings, events on your doorstep and volunteering opportunities, and be helping local wildlife along the way.
White Willow
White Willow is a large willow tree found along riverbanks, around lakes and in wet woodland. Its flowers appear in spring and its male catkins are long and yellow.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many wetland nature reserves for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife, including trees such as willows. But these precious sites are under threat from development, drainage and climate change. You can help by supporting your local Trust and becoming a member; you'll find out about exciting wildlife happenings, events on your doorstep and volunteering opportunities, and be helping local wildlife along the way.
Hybrid Black Poplar
The Hybrid Black Poplar is a commonly planted and naturalised variety of the Wild Black Poplar, and is frequently seen along riversides, roadsides and in parks. Grown for ornamental planting and timber production, it originated in France in the 18th century.
Wild Black Poplars have suffered severe declines and it is estimated that only 8,000 now exist in the UK, with only 400 being female. Their decline has been caused by a lack of suitable wetland habitat, the removal of trees because their seeds have been considered a nuisance, and the extensive planting of hybrids. But The Wildlife Trusts are helping this species through veteran tree surveys, planting and sympathetic wetland management. You can help by supporting your local Trust and becoming a member.
Black Poplar
The native Wild Black Poplar is a massive tree with a thick, fissured trunk that can be found in river valley floodplains, around gravel pits and along ditches. It is particularly prevalent in Shropshire, Cheshire, Somerset, the Vale of Aylesbury and East Anglia, but populations have declined massively over the years. Yet Black Poplars have formed an important part of our landscape and culture for centuries, from providing landmarks and focus for celebration, to inspiring the famous painter, Constable, and providing timber for floorboards.
Wild Black Poplars have suffered severe declines and it is estimated that only 8,000 now exist in the UK, with only 400 being female. Their decline has been caused by a lack of suitable wetland habitat, the removal of trees because their seeds have been considered a nuisance, and the extensive planting of hybrids. Now, many of our Wild Black Poplars are getting old, without new generations to replace them. But The Wildlife Trusts are helping this species through veteran tree surveys, planting and sympathetic wetland management. You can help by supporting your local Trust and becoming a member.
Aspen
Aspen is a small, slender poplar tree of heathland, woodland and wet woodland, and can particularly be found in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Aspen are known as 'colonial trees' because they spread by growing suckers from their roots from which new shoots appear. They can form extensive groves in this many. However, Aspen also reproduce sexually through wind pollination: flowers can be seen from February to March and the male and female catkins appear on separate trees.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for wildlife by ensuring a range of appropriate tree species, such as Aspen, provide food and shelter. You can help too: volunteer for The Wildlife Trusts and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland wildlife.
Scots Pine
Scots Pine is the native pine tree in Scotland and has been widely planted elsewhere in the UK, too. During the medieval ages, a great pine forest stretched across most of the Highlands, but by the 17th century it was disappearing as timber was used for ship-building and charcoal. Although the late 20th century saw just a fraction of the original forest left standing, regeneration has now started to occur, especially in areas fenced off from browsing deer.
Despite massive clearances of Scots Pine forest in the Highlands, this native tree is now making a comeback which is good news for wildlife. The forests provide shelter for all kinds of species, and the seeds of the pine cones are a favourite food of threatened Red Squirrels and endemic Scottish Crossbills. With the help of an army of volunteers, The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves for the benefit of wildlife - join us and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland animals.
Sitka Spruce
The Sitka Spruce is a tall, evergreen conifer originally from the west coast of North America. It was introduced into the UK in 1831 and has become our most widely planted forest tree. Between the 1950s and 1980s, it was notoriously planted in large, regimented, dark and uniform forests.
Although plantations of introduced tree species are often considered to be poor for biodiversity, they can, in fact, support a range of wildlife from Red Squirrels to Firecrests. The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for wildlife by ensuring a range of appropriate tree species provide food and shelter. You can help too: volunteer for The Wildlife Trusts and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland wildlife.
Norway Spruce
The Norway Spruce is a tall, evergreen conifer, originally from Scandinavia that was introduced into the UK in the 16th century. Familiar to us all as the traditional 'Christmas tree', the Norway Spruce is a common sight across the UK's landscape, cultivated in plantations for the Christmas tree market and for timber products.
Although plantations of introduced tree species are often considered to be poor for biodiversity, they can, in fact, support a range of wildlife from Red Squirrels to Firecrests. The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for wildlife by ensuring a range of appropriate tree species provide food and shelter. You can help too: volunteer for The Wildlife Trusts and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland wildlife.
European Larch
The European Larch is an unusual conifer as it is deciduous. It has small cones on brittle twigs which start of as green and red, but turn brown as they mature, eventually opening their 'scales' to release the seeds inside. In spring, the needles are bright green but they turn golden yellow in the autumn, before they drop.
Although plantations of introduced tree species are often considered to be poor for biodiversity, they can, in fact, support a range of wildlife from Red Squirrels to Firecrests. The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for wildlife by ensuring a range of appropriate tree species provide food and shelter. You can help too: volunteer for The Wildlife Trusts and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland wildlife.
