Turkish Hazel (Corylus colurna) This month we are turning our attention to corylus colurna, commonly known as the Turkish hazel. This impressive deciduous species, native to south-eastern Europe and western Asia, reaches heights of 20-25 metres and forms a conical crown which broadens as the tree...
Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis) As the spring gives way to summer (albeit not very convincingly!) we turn our attention to another tree which makes its mark during the earlier part of the year. Sorbus torminalis, known most commonly as the wild service tree, is relatively...
Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) Our tree of the month this month is a stately conifer native to the Himalayas. With its graceful branches and aromatic wood, the deodar cedar is now widely planted in temperate zones around the world and is a favourite among gardeners, landscapers...
Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Our tree of interest this month is the common beech. Classified as a native species in the south of England it is thought to have arrived here around 4,000 BC, possibly introduced by Stone Age humans who used the nuts for food....
Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) This month what better tree to shine a spotlight on than the Common Hawthorn – it bursts into life in May, colouring the landscape with its creamy white blossoms and earning its alternative name of the ‘May Tree’. “Ne’er cast a clout...
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) Following on from last month's What Tree we found it only right that we take a closer look at the Dawn Redwood. Up until the mid forties it was thought that this species was extinct, known only from Mesozoic Era fossil samples. Sixty million...
Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum) This month we are learning more about the swamp cypress. This is a large, slow-growing and long-living tree, which as the name suggests grows well in wet or water-logged areas. Native to the southeastern United States, it thrives in the UK and...
Silver Birch (Betula Pendula) This month we are taking a closer look at the striking and easily recognisable Silver Birch. Native across most of Europe, it is commonly found throughout the UK and owes its name to the silvery-white peeling bark on its trunk. [caption id="attachment_1105" align="alignnone"...
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) The Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Christmas go hand in hand with the nuts being a seasonal favourite, and is the species that has been awarded the 2023 Tree of the Year. This deciduous tree can live for a very long time -...
Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) This month we focus on a tree that needs little introduction. Nearly everyone recognises the iconic leaves of this tree species, and a lot of people have fond memories of playing, foraging or climbing oak trees. If you’re not lucky enough to...