NEWS

Here is the third of a series of posts to help you identify some common trees in Winter. To see the others  click here: Winter Tree Identification , Winter Tree Identification 2

Winter tree identification is based on the twigs, buds and bark so here is a simple guide to the twigs of some trees you should see in a woodland: Twig ID or look online for Winter Tree ID Guides.

ASH 

Ash can grow up to 35m tall. It is usually found in woods but can also be seen as individual trees in parks and fields. It is currently a common tree but due to Ash Dieback disease it is now under threat. The ends of it’s shoots and branches tend to curl up and twigs and branches grow in opposite pairs.

The bark is pale brown to grey and tends to fissure as it gets older. It is often found with lichens and mosses growing on it. The bark can be mistaken for other trees but it’s distinctive buds are the main clue to it’s identity.

The tree has smooth, slightly flattened twigs, which are green or grey. The buds are a very distinctive black colour and are in pairs on the twig with a large bud at the end, often surrounded by smaller buds.

HAWTHORN

Hawthorn is a smaller tree which can grow to 15m but is often found in hedges as a more shrubby plant. It’s dense thorny foliage makes it an excellent hedge plant and shelter for nesting birds.

The bark is brown-grey and knotted and fissured, although in younger trees it tends to be grey and smoother. It has thorns on it’s twigs so can be confused with Blackthorn. You may see red fruits on it and also dead leaves which are heavily lobed.

Hawthorn has small buds which usually emerge from the base of a thorn and are sometimes on the end of wrinkled shoots. This helps tell it apart from Blackthorn which tends to have longer thorns and buds which grow from the thorn.

So get out and visit local woodlands, see what trees you can find and we’ll be putting some more tree ID tips up soon. We are developing a woodland website for Hyndburn and are interested in your local wood so if you’d like to take pictures of the trees you see or tell me about your local wood then you can email me at roger.plum@prospectsfoundation.org.uk and for more information on how to get involved with Prospects and activities you can do, then visit our website www.prospectsfoundation.org.uk

Here is the second of a series of posts to help you identify some common trees in Winter. To see the first post click here: Winter Tree Identification

Winter tree identification is based on the twigs, buds and bark so here is a simple guide to the twigs of some trees you should see in a woodland: Twig ID or look online for Winter Tree ID Guides.

BEECH 

Beech is a large tree which can grow up to 50m tall. It is usually found in woods but is also used as a hedge plant. The bark is smooth, thin and grey and even in older trees doesn’t become very rough. It has dense leaf cover in the Summer so the ground below Beech trees is often bare of other plants and in Winter has a thick carpet of dead leaves and Beech Mast, which are the fruits of the tree.

Beech buds are long and thin and stick out from the twig. Beech can be confused with Hornbeam as they have similar bark and buds but the buds on a Hornbeam grow along the twig and are not such a copper colour.

During the Winter Beech trees can hold onto their dead leaves and this can be seen most in young trees or hedgerow trees.

SILVER BIRCH

Silver Birch is a distinctive tree, which can grow to 20m high. It is found in woodlands, heathland, open ground and parks. With it’s silvery white bark it stands out and has elegant drooping branches with slender purple twigs. Some trees may also have catkins on the twigs.

Mature trees still have the silvery colour but the lower trunk develops dark diamond shaped fissures, which can be thick and corky. The buds of Silver Birch are small, 4-5mm (0.2 in), and egg-shaped.  But due to the unique features of the rest of the tree these aren’t usually needed to identify it.

So get out and visit local woodlands, see what trees you can find and we’ll be putting some more tree ID tips up soon. We are developing a woodland website for Hyndburn and are interested in your local wood so if you’d like to take pictures of the trees you see or tell me about your local wood then you can email me at roger.plum@prospectsfoundation.org.uk and for more information on how to get involved with Prospects and activities you can do, then visit our website www.prospectsfoundation.org.uk

Winter is here and at this time of year trees can look sparse but with a few simple tips you can identify some common trees in our woodlands. Woodlands are a great place for a Winter walk. They are more sheltered and even at this time of year have wildlife that you can see. Birds are about looking for food to get them through the winter, trees can have fruits and seeds and plants such as ferns and mosses are visible along with Christmas related plants such as Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe. The low Winter sunshine casts long shadows and lights up the bare trees, giving different views of familiar woods. As the current government guidelines restrict movement not everyone is lucky enough to have woodlands near enough that they can walk to, although in Hyndburn there are a number of woodland sites that are near enough to the towns to be visited. More information about Hyndburn’s Woodlands can be found here: Hyndburn’s Woodlands and local walks can be found here: Discover Hyndburn. This is the first of a series of posts to help you identify some common trees.

Winter tree identification is based on the twigs, buds and bark so here is a simple guide to the twigs of some trees you should see in a woodland: Twig ID or look online for Winter Tree ID Guides.

HAZEL 

Hazel is a common tree in woods and hedges. It is often multi-stemmed and grows to a maximum height of 15m. The bark is shiny and silvery or light brown and has horizontal lines or ‘breathing pores’.

Especially in early Winter you may still see some of the leaves on the tree, either still green or usually yellow. They are quite large and roughly circular or heart shaped with a pointed end. If not on the tree then you may see them on the ground below, you may also see hazelnuts on the floor which is another clue.

During the Winter Hazel produce male and female flowers. The female flowers are small and red but the male flowers are long yellow catkins which can be seen on the tree. The twigs have buds which are short and blunt with green red scales and young shoots are hairy.

OAK

Oak trees can grow to 40m tall and are a vital habitat throughout the year for a variety of birds and insects. Young oaks have smooth, silvery-brown bark. As trees age, this grows rugged and is covered in finger-shaped platelets with deep fissures in between. Young oak bark can be confused with other trees so you need to look at the twigs to identify them.

Oak twigs have a distinctive cluster of brown buds at the end of the twig, other individual buds are spread down the twig in a spiral pattern.

Oaks can keep their leaves in Winter, although dead and brown they have the distinct oak leaf shape. They are easier to see on young trees but another clue for an oak is to look on the floor for leaves, acorns and acorn cups.

So get out and visit local woodlands, see what trees you can find and we’ll be putting some more tree ID tips up soon. We are developing a woodland website for Hyndburn and are interested in your local wood so if you’d like to take pictures of the trees you see or tell me about your local wood then you can email me at roger.plum@prospectsfoundation.org.uk and for more information on how to get involved with Prospects and activities you can do, then visit our website www.prospectsfoundation.org.uk