What are native trees?
The UK's native trees are usually defined as trees that arrived and grew here naturally after the last Ice Age, and were not introduced by humans.
Most of our native trees are broadleaved (also often referred to as deciduous trees) meaning they drop their leaves in winter. Examples are beech, birch, oak, ash and lime. The UK has around 50 species of native trees and shrubs, including three conifers.
Native trees are the main component of our native woodland. However, only a small proportion of our woodland, less than half, is now native.
The Woodland Trust is working to increase the amount of native woodland and native trees in the UK, through our campaigns, by creating new woods and by projects such as More Trees, More Good.
In 1980, native species accounted for only 5 per cent of the new trees planted in the UK. Thanks to the efforts of conservation organisations, like ourselves, this figure has now risen to around 40 per cent.