Large Trees


	Christmas Gift Guide

Terms & Conditions Register Log in Shopping Cart Product Search


	Home


	Shop pages ▼


	Shop Post & Packing How to Order Catalogue Contact


	Info pages ▼


	Birds Invertebrates Animals Plants & Trees Projects Photographs Links Wildlife Diary Webcam Forum


	Large Trees


	Whatever the size of your garden, it is important to plant trees. Native trees are best especially oak, willow, birch and hawthorn. They support insect life and give food, homes and cover for birds and other wildlife.




		Acorns provide food for grey squirrels, mice and birds such as pigeons and rooks.


	English Oak (Quercus robur)

Up to 35 metres

The oak is probably the most important tree as it shelters over 300 species of insects. Oak apples or galls are caused by the grubs of gall wasps. Green woodpeckers hunt for beetle larvae and grubs in its bark.

Did you know? In The New Forest in autumn pigs are released to eat the acorns as they are poisonous to the ponies.

Educational Discounts
▼

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastunum)

Up to 35 metres

The horse chestnut is a magnificent tree throughout the year but is much to large for all but the largest of gardens. Its flowers are pollenated by bees.

Conkers

Did you know? Conkers are bitter tasting and contain tannins and saponins they are not recommended for human consumption although they are eaten by animals such as cattle, deer and sheep with no ill effects.

Horse Chestnut Flowers




		Squirrels love chestnuts, eating some and burying others for winter use.

Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill)

Up to 30 metres


	Not suitable for small gardens as this long lived tree can grow up to 30 metres high. Chestnuts are edible and nutritious and can be eaten raw or roasted although they rarely grow to their full size in the British climate.


	Did you know? The Romans introduced the chestnut into England, it supplied their legions with pollenta, which is a nutritious flour made from grinding the nuts.

Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Up to 36 metres

Although too large a tree for most gardens and should not be planted close to buildings, the beech can be clipped and used for hedges.Beech nuts or masts are loved by squirrels, wood mice and jays.

New beech leaves in spring

Did you know? Pigs were once turned loose beneath beech trees in autumn to feed on the oil-rich masts.

Bluebells and wood anemones flower beneath the beech in spring.

Beech nuts or masts

Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

Up to 40 metres

The Ash is not recommended for the small garden as it is very large and not much survives below it. Its male and female flowers often bloom on the same tree.

Ash flowers

Did you know? It is said that burning ash logs would drive out evil spirits from a room.


	Ash ‘keys’

Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth)

Up to 30 metres

A beautiful tree and although large is ideal for garden planting as it requires little space and because it does not give much shade, many plants can grow beneath it.

Did you know? The twigs of the silver birch are cut in winter for besom brooms and forest-fire beaters.

Silver birch bark and bracket fungi


	Buy native trees and support the Woodland Trust

Uk Wildlife Photography

Galloway Web Design
Affordable web design for Dumfries & Galloway and beyond

Wildforms, Keepers Cottage, Glenstockadale, Leswalt, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, DG9 0LU
email: pete@wildforms.co.uk Telephone: 01776 870453