Juniper
Common Juniper is a sprawling, evergreen shrub that tends to grow in colonies on chalk downland, moorland, rocky slopes and coastal heaths. Its two favoured habitats are quite different: in the north it grows on acid soils on cold, rainy moorland alongside heather and Bilberry; in the south it prefers the hot, dry, calcium-rich soils of downland. It has a long history of folklore and myth and was hung outside the house at Hallowe'en to ward off evil spirits.
Populations of Common Juniper have declined massively over recent years, and some colonies are now extinct. This decline is due to a number of factors including unsuitable grazing, clearance and habitat loss. The Wildlife Trusts manage many nature reserves for the benefit of rare wildlife, including plants like Juniper. Ensuring correct grazing and scrub clearance to allow young bushes to develop, and planting new colonies, are just some of the ways we're helping. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from scrub-cutting to stockwatching.
Leyland Cypress
The Leyland Cypress or 'Leylandii' is a large evergreen tree that is widely planted in parks and gardens as an ornamental species. It shows exceptionally rapid growth and has dense foliage - both factors that make it a popular hedging species.
The spread of Leyland Cypress at the expense of planting native trees and hedges has not been great news for our wildlife, diminishing nectar and berry sources and suitable nesting areas. Our gardens can provide habitats for all kinds of wildlife, so instead of using exotic species, try planting native shrubs and trees. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Lawson Cypress
The Lawson Cypress is a large evergreen tree, familiar to many of us as it has been widely planted in parks and gardens as an ornamental or hedging species.
Lawson Cypress is a common garden evergreen which comes a in number of varieties for everything from tall hedging to low heather beds. Although dense, they can provide shelter for birds, so be careful to prune large trees out of the nesting season so that parents and young are not disturbed. Try planting native trees and shrubs in your garden to attract more wildlife - visit our Wild About Gardens website for facts and tips to get you started.
Monkey-puzzle
The Monkey-puzzle is a large, evergreen tree, which has been widely planted in parks and gardens. It was introduced into the UK from Chile in the 18th century by a botanist who managed to grow the seedlings on his ship and then donated them to Kew. By Victorian times, it had become a popular tree to plant in gardens and even in plantations.
Monkey-puzzle trees rarely self-seed in this country, so they are not a threat to native species. However, the planting of them in gardens and parks may well prove to be valuable in the future as their natural forest habitat is increasingly threatened by commercial plantations and felling and burning for agriculture. The Monkey-puzzle is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.
Yew
Many ancient Yews are found in churchyards which can be great places for wildlife: their old stone walls and gravestones harbour lichens and mosses, Yews and hedges provide food for birds and mammals, meadows are nectar sources for butterflies, and their peaceful atmosphere is good for wildlife and people alike. The Wildlife Trusts help local churches to look after the habitats they shelter through a variety of projects - get in touch with your local Trust today to find out more or volunteer to help.
Guelder-rose
Guelder-rose is a small tree of woodland edge, hedgerows, grassland scrub, fens and riversides, and is frequently planted along roadsides or in gardens and parks. The flowers appear in June and July and are followed by clusters of red berries.
The berries of Guelder-rose are an important food source for birds, such as Bullfinches and Mistle Thrushes. Try planting native shrub species like Guelder-rose in your garden - these will grow to provide food and shelter for wildlife. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Wayfaring-tree
The Wayfaring-tree is a small tree of woodland edge, hedgerows and grassland scrub, which is quite common on downland. The creamy flowers are out in May and June and are followed by red berries which eventually ripen to black, although both colours can be seen on the tree. These berries are particularly attractive to birds and small mammals which help to disperse the seeds.
Wayfaring-trees are an important food source for insects, such as hoverflies, looking for nectar, and birds, such as Blackbirds, looking for autumnal berries. Try planting native shrub species like Wayfaring-trees in your garden - these will grow to provide food and shelter for wildlife. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Elder
Elder is a shrub of woodland edge, hedgerows and grassland scrub, but also be found on waste ground, in cemeteries and even on rubbish tips. It prefers rich, fertilised soils, so is a common sight in urban areas and cultivated ground. Despite its reputation as a bad-smelling, opportunistic 'weed', Elder is regularly used as food - the autumn berries and spring flowers can both be eaten (the latter sometimes battered and fried) or the blossom can be used to make the popular elderflower cordial.
Elder is an important food source for insects, such as hoverflies, looking for nectar, and birds, such as Blackbirds and warblers, looking for autumnal berries. Well-known for its use in tea, cordial and jam-making, it is a food source for humans too. Try planting native shrub species like Elder in your garden - these will grow to provide food and shelter for wildlife and plenty of opportunities for homemade goodies too. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Lilac
Lilac is a popular garden plant which was introduced from the mountains of south-east Europe in the 16th century and is now sometimes found in hedgerows and woodland edges. It flowers in spring (around May and June) and is commonly used as an ornamental plant in gardens for both its delicately coloured flower spikes and its lovely fragrance.
Many ornamental shrubs and hedges in our gardens provide vital food and shelter for a range of wildlife including butterflies, birds and small mammals. To encourage wildlife into your garden, try planting hedges of native species. But if you do prefer some non-native varieties, be careful when you throw away cuttings - species can easily escape into surrounding habitats and can cause problems for local wildlife. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Wild Privet
Wild Privet is a common, semi-evergreen shrub of hedgerows, woodland edges and grassland scrub on well-drained calcareous soils. It is also commonly used for hedging in suburban gardens. White flowers appear from June through summer, and black berries ripen in autumn. Although the berries are extremely poisonous to humans, they are eaten by thrushes and other birds.
Wild Privet is the main foodplant of the Privet Hawk-moth and also provides cover for small birds and other animals. To encourage wildlife into your garden, try planting hedges of native species - these will grow to provide food and shelter for everything from hedgehogs to hawk-moths. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
