Ancient, morbid, toxic. The yew is one of the longest-lived native species in Europe. This has made it a symbol of death and doom, but it provides food and shelter for woodland animals.

Tree Rowan Elder Beech Whitebeam Cherry Willow Identification Tree Rowan Elder Beech Whitebeam Cherry Willow Identification

First introduced around AD 995, the diverse and delicious pear is a favourite with wildlife and people alike. Soft on the outside. Tough on the inside. On a global scale, this tree, with its fuzzy leaf stalks, shoots and twigs, grows further north than any other broadleaf species. A spring-time show-off, European larch is a conifer full of surprises. Introduced over 400 years ago, it’s a favourite with squirrels, birds and moths alike. Beautiful blossom and a bounty of bright red fruits. Wild cherry , one of the prettiest native trees, is relished by gardeners and wildlife.

Overall appearance, size and shape

Many trees flower in spring. Some have masses of frothy blossom, others have furry catkins dangling from their branches. Our blossom ID sheet features common tree flowers and when to spot them. Take it outdoors and see what you can find. Charming, sturdy, pollinator-magnet. Not only does the small-leaved lime’s blossom produce a sweet scent and pleasantly minty honey, its leaves support the caterpillars of moths such as the lime hawk, peppered and vapourer. Towering in the glen, the Scots pine is a truly stunning tree. It is one of only three native conifers, and our only native pine. It’s the perfect home for iconic Scottish wildlife, such as the red squirrel, capercaillie, Scottish crossbill and the Scottish wildcat. Pleasant smelling, antiseptic, highly flammable. Eucalyptus might be the favourite of koalas in its native Australia, but in the UK it is insects which are drawn to its rich oil. Many trees only bloom at a particular time during the year but if you can see flowers, usually in the spring, it can be another helpful to help with tree identification.

UK Tree identification guide | Natural History Museum

Pines, spruces, firs, cedars and larches have needles. They can be different shapes, sizes and be arranged differently on twigs. Flattened needles could mean a yew or whorls of three needles juniper. Trees that are closely related often share similar features. All elm species have unequal leaf bases - take a look at the bottom of the leaf where it meets the leaf stem (known as a petiole).. Our popular leaf ID tools feature common British trees and are a great way to introduce youngsters to leaves. There are many ways to use them and they can trigger all sorts of tree-related conversations:Dense and pungent, but with fruits that are enjoyed by birds and humans alike, the Midland hawthorn is a supremely useful tree whose natural range is not fully understood. Take them outside and use them in your garden, school grounds or local wood. They cover all four seasons so youngsters can discover how trees change throughout the year. Use them to identify leaves, winter twigs, spring blossom and autumn fruits. It is set up so the novice can identify different pieces of the tree individually & then arrive at a consensus for the actual species. This is a revolutionary idea in the world of tree ID. Usually books say a tree has a very specific type of twig, leaf, or bark, but the truth of the matter is, depending on the conditions, any individual trait can vary amazingly. The book is divided into sections that compare & contrast all of these to figure out the genus & then another section that helps narrow down the species. Cones can vary in appearance and can also be highly modified. The red ‘berry’ of a yew and the blue round ‘berry’ of juniper are actually cones.

British Trees: A photographic guide to every common species

Most conifer trees have needles or scales present all year that can be used for identification. One of the few exceptions is European larch which loses its needles in winter. A true springtime stunner, it’s not so long ago that you could find wild-service fruit at a market. These days it’s rare and hard to find but it’s still a favourite with wildlife like the wood pigeon, whose gut softens its seeds for propagation.If you don’t know the name of the tree but think it is similar to another you have seen use the key ‘Closely-related trees’ which has links to Limes, Oaks, Pines, Alders, Firs, Spruces, True Cedars, Elms, Maples, Willows, Poplars and Birches. A pretender to the throne, the Turkey oak was introduced to the UK in the 1700s and is now impacting our native oak populations. It’s less valuable to wildlife, but much faster growing and a host of the knopper oak gall wasp.