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