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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, goat
Also known as the pussy willow, the male catkins of the goat willow look like a cat’s paws. It supports lots of wildlife, including the elusive and regal purple emperor butterfly.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, bay
Small but pretty, the bay willow is named after its smell and misleading appearance. It’s a lover of damp conditions, and feeder of pollinators and caterpillars.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, white
Silvery leaved, waterside and fenland dweller. White willow feeds and shelters native wildlife and has been a source of natural remedies for centuries.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, osier
Strong, neat and bendy, osier willow is the best of the best for basket weaving. It’s not only a source of food and shelter for native wildlife, it can even decontaminate soils it is planted on!
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow warbler
A common and dainty summer visitor with a mournful song that rings through the trees. The willow warbler likes to sing and shake its feathers while it forages for insects.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, crack
Scruffy and loud, the crack willow is named after its habit of splitting with cracks and fissures, and how noisy its branches are when they break. It’s one of the largest willows and its leaves are popular with moth caterpillars.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, grey
A soft, silvery lover of damp woodland, the grey willow is a bit scruffy but full of charm. Caterpillars flock to feed on its leaves and its fuzzy catkins are an early pollen source for pollinators.
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Blog
Chiffchaff or willow warbler? How to tell the difference
Chiffchaffs and willow warblers will start to arrive on our shores soon. Do you know how to tell the difference?
Charlotte Armitage • 19 Mar 2018
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Woodland Trust Wood
Windy Willow Wood
Runcorn
1.35 ha (3.34 acres)
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Somerset County Council Wood
Glastonbury Willow Walk
Somerset
1.41 ha (3.48 acres)
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Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Willow Bed Plantation
Merseyside
1.69 ha (4.18 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
Willow Farm Woodlands
Leicestershire
39.51 ha (97.63 acres)
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Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Ryton Willows
Tyne & Wear
7.22 ha (17.84 acres)
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The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wood
Willow Farm Wood
Lancashire
4.23 ha (10.45 acres)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Poplar leaf beetle
A bright-coloured, picky eater. The poplar leaf beetle spends its time munching on the leaves of willows and, you guessed it, poplars.
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Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Wood
Willow Ground Wood
Lancashire
1.97 ha (4.87 acres)
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Portsmouth City Council Wood
Willow Dene
Hampshire
0.74 ha (1.83 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
Willowbrook
Oxfordshire
5.94 ha (14.68 acres)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Wet woodland
Wild, transient, boggy and rare. Wet woodlands are now some of our least common wooded habitats. Trees like alder, willows and birch dominate on wet soils, whilst sedges, ferns and mosses flourish beneath.
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Privately owned Wood
Willow Farm
Suffolk
1.12 ha (2.77 acres)
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Peak District National Park Authority Wood
Willows Wood
Derbyshire
0.81 ha (2.00 acres)
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Blog
Curly oaks, corkscrew willows and more
Some trees have been bred to exaggerate a curly growth pattern, but did you know that it can occur naturally too?
Emilie Bonnevay • 06 Mar 2018
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Woodland Trust Wood
Bisham Woods
Cookham Dean Maidenhead
152.63 ha (377.15 acres)
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Research briefing
Tree leaves as supplementary feed for ruminant livestock
We look at the value of different species of tree leaves as mineral supplements for livestock. Willow in particular is identified as a potentially valuable source of cobalt and zinc.
PDF (161 KB)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Kings Wood
London Apprentice nr St. Austell
58.52 ha (144.60 acres)
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Plant trees
Which species to plant
Different trees have different purposes and needs. Choose your species according to the land you have and what you want from your trees.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Daeda's Wood
Deddington
3.70 ha (9.14 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Haddocks Wood
Runcorn
9.46 ha (23.38 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Miltonrigg Woods
Brampton
63.58 ha (157.11 acres)
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Nottinghamshire County Council Wood
Daneshill Lakes
Nottinghamshire
52.70 ha (130.22 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - St. Vigeans & Brothock Valley Woods
Angus
25.79 ha (63.73 acres)
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London Borough of Greenwich Wood
Dot Hill Community Woodland
Greater London
2.38 ha (5.88 acres)
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Cumbria Wildlife Trust Wood
Dubbs Moss
Cumbria
10.04 ha (24.81 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Marketmuir Wood
Angus
1.49 ha (3.68 acres)
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Scottish Wildlife Trust Wood
Knowetop Lochs
Dumfries and Galloway
24.49 ha (60.51 acres)
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RSPB Wood
Campfield Marsh
Cumbria
4.74 ha (11.71 acres)
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Durham County Council Wood
Ferryhill Carrs LNR
County Durham
6.54 ha (16.16 acres)
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Blog
Woodland Walks podcast with Adam Shaw and Tristan Gooley
In our latest episode, natural navigator Tristan Gooley teaches us how clues and signs in nature can tell us about the land, water and animals around us.
Adam Shaw • 21 Apr 2023
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Blog
Nature scavenger hunts for kids
Discover ideas for nature-based scavenger hunts and add some fun to your family walks in the woods.
Danielle Wesley • 17 Jan 2020
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Blog
Common tree identification: top 10 beginner's trees
Our top ten trees to give you a crash course in common tree identification.
Helen Keating • 26 May 2021
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Blog
11 rare birds in Britain's woodland
Find out all about 11 rare birds in British woodland, and why they are so elusive.
Charlotte Varela • 10 Apr 2019
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Blog
Which birds migrate? Who you can spot this summer
Swallows, swifts and martins aren’t our only summer migrants – keep your eyes peeled for these species and record your sightings through Nature’s Calendar.
Charlotte Varela • 12 May 2018
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Trees woods and wildlife
Coal tit
The tiniest of tits with dull grey feathers to match its name. The coal tit is a frequent visitor to bird feeders across the UK.
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Blog
6 rare moths that depend on UK trees
The UK is home to a number of moths that depend on trees. Explore moth species that you'd be lucky to encounter on a woodland walk.
Julia Lock • 12 Jul 2022
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Woodland Trust Wood
Old Warren Woodland
Lisburn
1.96 ha (4.84 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
New Covert & Park Woods
Melbourne
10.80 ha (26.69 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Warneage Wood
Wanborough nr Swindon
18.88 ha (46.65 acres)
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London Borough of Havering Wood
Parklands
Greater London
4.21 ha (10.40 acres)
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Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Sideland Nature Reserve
Powys
1.95 ha (4.82 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Carlogie Park Wood
Angus
0.80 ha (1.98 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - West Common Wood
Angus
0.60 ha (1.48 acres)
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Gosport Borough Council Wood
West of the River Alver LNR
Hampshire
11.54 ha (28.52 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Broomfield Wood
Angus
8.36 ha (20.66 acres)
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Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Shevington Moor Woodland
Greater Manchester
5.60 ha (13.84 acres)
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Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Fairhurst Land Woodland
Greater Manchester
9.13 ha (22.56 acres)
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London Borough of Barnet Wood
Barnet Childrens Millennium Woods
Greater London
0.31 ha (0.77 acres)
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Woodland Welcome Wood
Common Wood
Buckinghamshire
103.69 ha (256.22 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
The Alver Valley
Hampshire
9.95 ha (24.59 acres)
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Sedgefield Borough Council Wood
Sedgefield Borough Council
County Durham
4.45 ha (11.00 acres)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Hazel
Catkins resembling lambs tails, and late-summer nuts. Hazel is one of the most useful trees for its bendy stems and as a conservation saviour. And its nuts are loved by people, squirrels and hazel dormice.
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Press centre
Dalkeith named heritage tree hotspot as experts record 500 “living legends”
Dalkeith Country Park in Midlothian has been revealed as a heritage tree hotspot after experts recorded 500 ancient, veteran and notable oaks over the last year.
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Blog
Which trees have catkins? And how to tell them apart
Catkins are long slim clusters of tiny flowers. We take a look at which trees have them, why they grow and when you can see them.
Martha Boalch • 17 Dec 2018
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Blog
What’s the difference between nuts and seeds?
When it comes to nuts and seeds, it’s easy to get confused by name, size and other factors. Here’s our guide to work out which is which, along with some handy examples.
Charlie Mellor • 29 Aug 2019
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About us
Our ambassadors
Our ambassadors help us stand up for trees. Find out all about them.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Heathland and moorland
Shaped by our ancestors for life’s essentials. Open heathlands provided grazing, foraging, and vital materials. Find out how they support specialist wildlife and form mosaics with other open and wooded habitats.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Asian and citrus longhorn beetles
The Asian longhorn beetle is a killer of broadleaf trees. It’s not in the UK yet, but there’s a high risk of it being imported on wood packaging.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Butterdean Wood
Gladsmuir Haddington
42.15 ha (104.15 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Cinnamon Brow
Warrington
1.27 ha (3.14 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Pitts Heath Wood
Runcorn
4.11 ha (10.16 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Urquhart Bay
Drumnadrochit
22.90 ha (56.59 acres)
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RSPB Wood
Marazion Marsh
Cornwall
6.06 ha (14.97 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Elliot Wood
Angus
1.74 ha (4.30 acres)
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Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Ardley Quarry
Oxfordshire
11.72 ha (28.96 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - High & Low Common Wood
Angus
0.57 ha (1.41 acres)
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Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Adel Dam Nature Reserve
West Yorkshire
7.67 ha (18.95 acres)
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Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Friskney Decoy Wood
Lincolnshire
5.99 ha (14.80 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Barry Links Wood
Angus
1.31 ha (3.24 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
Craigluscar
Fife
43.88 ha (108.43 acres)
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Blog
What are the most common trees in the UK?
Ever wondered which trees species are most common in the UK? Check out our top ten.
Laura Cottam • 21 Dec 2018
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Trees woods and wildlife
Purple emperor
Despite its exotic appearance, the purple emperor is as typical of UK woodland as the mighty oak. It’s elusive and beautiful, but has quite the unsavoury appetite.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Paddock Wood
Longhirst
5.73 ha (14.16 acres)
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Blog
Bird song identification: songs and calls for beginners
How many birds can you identify by sound alone? Learn to tell some of the UK's most familiar and distinct bird songs apart with our handy guide.
Kayleigh Jacobs-Rutter • 13 Feb 2024
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Blog
What hatched here? How to identify bird egg shells
Found a fragment of egg in the garden, woods or park? Here's a quick guide to the most common UK bird eggs too help you find out which species it came from.
Helen Keating • 05 May 2020
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Video
Arbor Projects
See how free tree packs have helped create beautiful green spaces in and around London.
00:02:24
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Woodland Trust Wood
Culvery Wood
Pensford
3.56 ha (8.80 acres)
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Blog
Farm diversification: ideas, grants and examples
In these days of pressurised farm incomes, trees and woods may offer a number of ways to help diversify farm income streams and bring cost savings too.
John Tucker • 23 Jan 2018
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Blog
Seed dispersal: 5 ways trees spread their seeds
Trees have found several ingenious ways to ensure their seeds are spread far and wide. Some use wind or water, some use explosive force, and some hitch a ride on passing animals. We look at each of these clever methods.
Amy Lewis • 23 Aug 2019
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Woodland Trust Wood
Ballyarnett Wood
Ballyarnet
2.33 ha (5.76 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Charles Wood
Warrington
0.36 ha (0.89 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Oakfield Glen
Carrickfergus
8.86 ha (21.89 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Oppy Wood
Cottingham Hull
10.30 ha (25.45 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Kirrie Den Wood
Angus
5.52 ha (13.64 acres)
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Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Stamford Park
Greater Manchester
6.00 ha (14.83 acres)
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Huntingdonshire District Council Wood
Hinchingbrooke Country Park
Cambridgeshire
29.62 ha (73.19 acres)
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Countryside Council for Wales Wood
Coed Gorsw
Conwy
13.57 ha (33.53 acres)
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Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Askham Bog
North Yorkshire
26.36 ha (65.14 acres)
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Cheshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Rudheath
Cheshire
8.63 ha (21.32 acres)
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Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Gatley Carrs
Greater Manchester
2.08 ha (5.14 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Steele and Glenmoy Woods
Angus
8.12 ha (20.06 acres)
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Hampshire County Council Wood
Kite's Croft
Hampshire
11.14 ha (27.53 acres)
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The National Forest Wood
Potters Meadow
Staffordshire
11.94 ha (29.50 acres)
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Video
Abi Reader, dairy farmer in Vale of Glamorgan
Abi explains the farm's experimental short rotation coppice system with a high protein arable crop between rows of native trees. The aim is to meet a universal goal: food production and a sustainable planet.
00:03:06
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Press centre
New report reveals serious threat to Welsh woods and trees
A Woodland Trust report provides evidence of multiple threats that pose catastrophic consequences for woods and trees across the UK.
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Blog
Foraging at Easter: make a wreath and other home decorations
Brighten up your home and bring spring indoors with these easy ideas for Easter decorations using wild foraged plants.
Helen Keating • 07 Apr 2022
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Blog
Wildflower quiz: name these 10 common wildflowers
Can you name these ten common British wildflowers? Test your wildflower knowledge with our quiz.
Helen Keating • 11 Apr 2019
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Blog
Types of bee in the UK: how to tell the difference
From fluffy bumblebees to pint-sized mining bees, we take a look at the key characteristics of some of our most common species.
Charlotte Varela • 31 Jul 2023
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Video
Sibsey Wood volunteers
Find out more about the Sibsey Wood volunteers and why they were nominated for an award.
00:02:07
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Press centre
A9 central reservation is in a better state than surrounding hills
A central reservation of one of Scotland's busiest roads, the A9, is in a more natural state than the surrounding hills, says report from the Woodland Trust.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Glen Sherup
Glendevon by Dollar Perthshire
603.51 ha (1491.27 acres)
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Blog
Common symptoms of tree pests and diseases
Trees can suffer from pests and diseases at any time, here we explain the most common reasons why your tree could be struggling to thrive and what symptoms to look out for.
Matt Elliot • 18 Aug 2020
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Blog
UK moth identification and facts: 12 common species for beginners
There are more than 870 species of large moth in the UK, many of which can be tricky for beginners to tell apart. Get to know some of the UK's most familiar and easily-identified species with our quick guide.
Amy Lewis • 02 Jun 2021
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Blog
Bird song: Blackcap, chiffchaff and more
Find out how to identify the bird song of blackcaps, chiffchaffs and other birds.
Hannah Vickers • 03 Apr 2020
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Plant trees
Types of woodland management
A detailed look at how and when to carry out the techniques of coppicing, pollarding, formative pruning and thinning.
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Blog
What do moths eat? Feeding, life cycle and other facts
Explore how some of the 2,500 species of UK moth develop and what they eat.
Julia Lock • 09 May 2022
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Woodland Trust Wood
Cow Hollow Wood
Waterbeach
6.82 ha (16.85 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Chickerell Downs
Chickerell
5.10 ha (12.60 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Longbeech North
Challock Ashford Kent
103.84 ha (256.59 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Martinshaw Wood
Ratby & Groby
102.84 ha (254.12 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Twig & Bog Woods
Warrington
2.93 ha (7.24 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Newtyle Park
Angus
2.03 ha (5.02 acres)
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Harlow District Council Wood
Harlow Marshes - Marshgate Springs
Essex
1.76 ha (4.35 acres)
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National Trust Wood
Fowey & East Cornwall - Lerryn
Cornwall
12.02 ha (29.70 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Cookston Wood
Angus
1.40 ha (3.46 acres)
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Angus Millennium Forest Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Strangs Wood
Angus
0.56 ha (1.38 acres)
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Gosport Borough Council Wood
Alverwood
Hampshire
4.16 ha (10.28 acres)
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Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Highfield Woodland
Greater Manchester
0.93 ha (2.30 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
Stoneypath Tower
East Lothian
2.65 ha (6.55 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
Rigby Landfill Site
Lancashire
2.89 ha (7.14 acres)
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Blog
How to make a holly wreath
Read our tips and step by step guide on how to make your own festive wreath from holly and other natural foraged materials.
Kate Lewthwaite • 24 Nov 2020
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Press centre
New woodland statistics cast doubt on Government’s ability to halt nature’s decline by 2030
The Woodland Trust responds to new woodland statistics published today by the Forestry Commission.
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Blog
Trimming and maintaining native hedges
Whether they're in your garden or in the wider landscape, native hedgerows are important features that offer food and shelter for wildlife. Explore when and how you should manage a native hedge.
Julia Lock • 22 Sep 2022
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Press centre
Million pound grant to 'roll out rainforest' around Scottish mountain
Woodland Trust Scotland is to receive £1m+ through the Forestry Grant Scheme to expand rare Scottish rainforest around the slopes of a Highland mountain.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood
Normanton le Heath
185.76 ha (459.01 acres)
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Visiting woods
Glas-na-Bradan Wood
The important landscape of Glas-na-Bradan Wood is home to lots of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
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Blog
Elephant hawk-moth: caterpillar, lifecycle and is it poisonous?
Elephant hawk-moths are big, bright and very, very beautiful. But what do elephant hawk-moth caterpillars look like, where does their name come from, and are they poisonous?
Charlotte Varela • 08 Jul 2024
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Trees woods and wildlife
Broadleaved woodland
Sun-dappled and ever-changing, broadleaved woodland across the UK provides ideal conditions for more species than you can count! We fight to protect it, and make much more, but, the UK is still one of the least wooded countries in Europe.
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Blog
British trees: folklore and mythology
Trees are deeply embedded in our history and folklore. Explore nine British trees with their own magical associations and stories.
Helen Keating • 29 Apr 2021
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Trees woods and wildlife
Great tit
A familiar face. Great tits are among our most common birds, bringing a dash of green and yellow to woodland and gardens across the country.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Monkstown Wood
Newtownabbey
8.90 ha (21.99 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Shillbrook Wood
Bampton Witney
3.69 ha (9.12 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Reffley Wood
King's Lynn
52.35 ha (129.36 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Tween Towns Wood
Guilden Morden
3.38 ha (8.35 acres)
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Cheshire West and Chester Council Wood
Furey Woodland
Cheshire
7.73 ha (19.10 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Lochty Burn Wood
Angus
0.40 ha (0.99 acres)
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London Borough of Greenwich Wood
Horn Park
Greater London
0.66 ha (1.63 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - East Kirkton Wood
Angus
1.97 ha (4.87 acres)
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Bracknell Forest Borough Council Wood
Hayley Green Wood
Berkshire
2.10 ha (5.19 acres)
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Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust Wood
Decoy Heath
Berkshire
7.74 ha (19.13 acres)
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Wokingham District Council Wood
Aldermoors
Berkshire
8.72 ha (21.55 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Patons Lane Wood
Angus
4.03 ha (9.96 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Hercules Den Wood
Angus
13.14 ha (32.47 acres)
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Forestry Commission Scotland Wood
Gunns Wood
Highland
69.13 ha (170.82 acres)
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Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council Wood
Doffcocker Delph
Greater Manchester
0.64 ha (1.58 acres)
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Angus Council Wood
Angus Millennium Forest - Pitskelly and Braefoot Woods
Angus
7.25 ha (17.91 acres)
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Privately owned Wood
Hallside
South Lanarkshire
35.82 ha (88.51 acres)
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Blog
Foraging for natural Christmas decorations
Transform your home into a woodland wonderland this Christmas with our easy ideas for festive, foraged home decor.
Helen Keating • 05 Dec 2022
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Woodland Trust Wood
Percy Wakley Wood
Rockbeare
5.41 ha (13.37 acres)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Blackcap
Named after the male’s signature black cap, this little bird arrives in the UK each spring, bringing with it the sweet sound of its beautiful song.
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Case study
Fruit trees - improving land and increasing yield on a mixed farm
A case study demonstrating the productivity benefits of fruit trees on a mixed organic farm. Planting in rows provides shelter for crops and prevents soil erosion.
PDF (936 KB)
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Blog
British trees and shrubs to plant: 14 native garden trees
British trees pack a big punch in your garden. Make space for one or two you’ll have year-round interest and be supporting wildlife too. Here's our top 14 native trees to plant in your garden.
Helen Keating • 08 Nov 2021