
Trees woods and wildlife
A-Z of British trees
Our A-Z guide to British trees from native species to naturalised and widely planted non-natives.
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May is a month bursting with life. Spring is in full swing and woodland wildlife havens are a hive of activity. From the understorey to the canopy, trees and plants are blooming and all manner of mammals, birds, insects and reptiles are arriving, breeding, playing and feeding. Here's what's happening in the world of woodland wildlife this month.
Trees woods and wildlife
Our A-Z guide to British trees from native species to naturalised and widely planted non-natives.
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Lorienne Whittle • 21 Mar 2022
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Rachel Hoskins • 14 Mar 2020
Trees woods and wildlife
From the dazzling bluebells that cover ancient woodland in the spring to the bright meadows bursting with buttercups in the summer, wild flowers are what make our woods so beautiful. Find out what flowers you might see on a woodland walk and how to identify them with pictures.
Visiting woods
Discover the top British trees for blossom and find out when and where you can see it.
These wildlife activities aren't all confined to woodland - keep your eyes peeled in local parks, street trees and your own garden.
May brings a flurry of feathers as flocks of migratory birds descend on the UK from abroad to raise their young in our more favourable conditions. Look and listen for the first appearances of blackcap, cuckoo, nightingale, spotted flycatcher, swift and more.
Some resident birds are already well on their way to rearing a new brood, with many blue tits and great tits starting to feed their young this month and juvenile blackbirds leaving the nest for the first time.
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Charlotte Varela • 12 May 2018
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Amy Lewis • 10 Apr 2019
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Helen Keating • 05 May 2020
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Charlotte Varela • 14 Jun 2019
Migratory birds aren't the only wildlife focused on breeding this month. Hedgehog males attempt to woo a mate by circling the female and making loud snuffling and grunting noises – you may see or hear this behaviour in your neighbourhood as well as woodland.
Much more quietly, sleek and subtle slow worms start mating in May too. These legless lizards are common in our woods – look out for them basking in sunny spots.
Some species are famously elusive, so keep your eyes and ears open for clues including calls, footprints, scat, fur and feathers. Our poos and clues swatch book might help!
A variety of woodland mammals are already raising their young. Most fox cubs have now been born and will be playing outside the den, especially around dawn and dusk. Adults are more active as they hunt for extra food to satisfy the youngsters. Badger cubs, now around three to four months old, begin exploring and playing outside the sett.
Pine marten kits tend to take their first venture outside the den too, having been born in March or April. And red squirrels will be starting to breed again as their first kits leave the drey to build homes of their own. Tread quietly and you may even spot a newborn roe deer hiding among the shrubs.
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Charlotte Varela • 16 Aug 2019
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Charlie Mellor • 14 Jun 2018
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Charlie Mellor • 09 Jun 2020
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Helen Keating • 27 Aug 2019
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Helen Keating • 01 Nov 2018
May's warmer, lighter days are inundated with insects. Watch for early damselflies and dragonflies close to woodland ponds and streams, and a variety of bees gorging on spring pollen and nectar. Butterflies emerging for the first time this month include comma, holly blue, orange tip, red admiral, small white and speckled wood.
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Amy Lewis • 24 Nov 2017
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Amy Lewis • 22 Jul 2019
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Joe Bates • 25 Jul 2018
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Charlotte Varela • 14 May 2019
The Nature’s Calendar project tracks the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife across the UK – its records date all the way back to 1736! We monitor 150 events for the project, including many of May’s woodland wildlife activities.
Join Nature’s Calendar to record your sightings – every record helps us better understand how weather and climate change are affecting our wildlife. By taking just a few minutes to share what you see, you'll be adding to hundreds of years' worth of important data. We couldn't do this work without you!
Have you seen the first ladybird of the year or the last swallow of summer? Tell us about the nature near you and help scientists track the effects of climate change on wildlife.
Take part in our Nature's Calendar surveyVisiting woods
Search thousands of woods across the UK and gather information on the local facilities, features, wildlife and history in the area.
Visiting woods
Flowers bring bursts of colour and wildlife reawakens, turning the woods into a hive of activity. Explore our top ideas for woodland visits in spring.