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Trees for a nation

Trees are all around us, we see them every day as we pass by them on walks and commutes, but how much do we know about our sentinel companions?


At this time of year many trees stand looking slightly bare, after the lush summer leaves have changed from green to bursts of orange and yellow in the Autumn. Some trees shed their leaves to conserve energy throughout the winter, when less light is available to absorb through their leaves and turn into food.


Some of our most common urban trees are deciduous and take part in this seasonal leave shedding process.


Silver birch, recognisable by their peeling white bark, are found in many urban areas. They are resilient trees, wind and frost resistant and tolerant of pollution. Their roots spread wide enabling them to source nutrients from the soil.


Two other familiar sights are the Sycamore and Horse Chestnut trees. Both uniquely recognisable, the sycamore by their distinctive winged shape fruits, which spiral to the ground in a spinning circular motion. Horse chestnuts by their spiky conkers encasing fruits, which fall to the ground in autumn and are eaten by squirrels.


All of these trees provide food, shelter and a home for a range of wildlife from insects, birds and mammals. They do it for many years, with the silver birch living up to 200 years, the Horse Chestnut tree 300 years and the Sycamore 400 years.



English Oak tree



When it comes to longevity few UK trees can surpass that of the English Oak. These iconic British trees can live for up to 1000 years and some have been standing since medieval times.


During their great lifespan Oak trees support a huge amount of life. Their flowers provide food for insects including caterpillars and butterflies, whilst their acorns feed squirrels, badgers and deer.


Bats and birds nest in the trees crevasses and feed on the abundance of insects attracted to the tree. When their leaves drop to the ground, they provide a perfect habitat for fungi and stag beetles.



Evergreen


During colder months evergreen trees provide a welcome lift of colour to wintery landscapes.


Evergreen trees adapt to the changing seasons and keep their leaves in autumn. They absorb light and water and hold both in reserve to draw upon when the resources are not readily available in winter.


Due to their bright green colour in winter and aroma, The fir tree became a symbol for winter festivals, and was brought into the home to brighten the darker winer days.


A familiar sight in winter are red berries. Holly, Hawthorne, Spindle and Rowan trees all produce berries in the colder months which are eaten by wildlife.


Many of these berries can be toxic to humans and pets and some can only be consumed in small portions by birds due to their toxicity. This rationing of berries in winter by birds helps to ensure a supply throughout the winter.



Synonymous with a Christmas scene the bright red berries of the Holly tree are eaten by birds and small mammals in winter, although they are toxic to humans and pets.


Throughout the seasons trees support a huge range of biodiversity by providing food and shelter. They give soil nutrients, they produce oxygen and they have a positive effect on the wellbeing of people. They absorb pollutants from the air, including carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide being one of the largest contributors to climate change on earth.


Due to their great importance many initiatives have been set up to support and nurture trees, so they in turn can support us.

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