Ivy (Hedera Spp) This month, as Christmas approaches, we thought we would focus on one of the more festive species. Inspired by the Christmas carol ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and already reviewed Common Holly, we decided this was a good opportunity to dispel a myth...
Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) The sessile oak (Quercus petraea), one of the UK’s native oak species, is a majestic and long-lived tree known for its durability and its significant role in the landscape of ancient woodlands. Its name derives from its stalkless (sessile) acorns which are...
Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) Following our focus last month on the Turkish hazel, this month we are turning our attention to corylus avellana, commonly known as the European, common hazel or simply hazel. This native deciduous species is often coppiced and so is relatively rarely seen...
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...