The Most Common Trees In The UK

The area of woodland in the UK is estimated to be around 13% of the total land area in the UK, estimated to be over 3 million hectares. And did you know there are more than 60,000 species of tree in the world? The UK is home to only a selection of these, but represent some truly amazing greenery.

Here are some of the most common trees in the UK.

Ash

Ash trees can reach a very large 35 metres tall, often growing together to form amazing domed canopies. There are around 50 species of ash trees, growing in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. Domestic and wild animals like to eat the leaves and branches of ash trees.

Beech

Beech trees are normally found in drier conditions and are commonly thought of as a symbol of femininity. Their leaves have hairy edges and some have deep purple leaves instead of green. We still don’t know why the colour variation happens, but both normal and purple leaves occur naturally.

English Oak

Probably one of the most iconic trees associated with the UK is the mighty English Oak. Oak trees can grow up to 40 metres tall and are often found in central and southern England. Oak trees produce acorns, with each tree itself beginning its life as a tiny acorn. The wood from oak trees is very strong, so is often used as a reliable building material.

Holly

Holly trees are found all up and down the UK, common in woodland as well as parks and gardens. They are synonymous with Christmas, with the distinctive spiky leaves and red berries an iconic Christmas image.

Rowan

Rowan trees, also known as mountain ash, are most commonly found in higher altitudes. They used to be widely planted around the country due to them being believed to be a protection from witches!

Hazel

Hazel trees have tiny little hairs on their leaves, making them soft to the touch. Hazel trees are very popular with wildlife, especially dormice, woodpeckers and other birds. They eat the hazelnuts that grow on them, with the leaves being eaten by caterpillars.

White Willow

White willow is a very distinctive tree, often found growing in wet ground close to rivers and streams. Their meaning has changed over time, once seen as a symbol of celebration, but now often associated with sadness.

Tree Surgery From Reliable Groundwork Contractors

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We are NPTC-certified tree surgeons who are able to maintain your trees and keep them in a safe condition at competitive prices. If you’d like to find out anything else about our tree surgery services, get in touch with us today.