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Trees woods and wildlife

Bluebell

Enchanting and iconic, bluebells are a favourite with the fairies and a sure sign spring is in full swing. The violet glow of a bluebell wood is an incredible wildflower spectacle. 

Visiting woods

Best bluebell woods

Experience a stunning sea of bluebells this spring. Discover our best bluebell woods across the UK.

Press centre

Visit the Woodland Trust's bluebell woods in full bloom

The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland wants to welcome visitors to sites throughout the region to enjoy the spectacular springtime sight of a bluebell-carpeted woodland.

Blog

Are bluebells poisonous? And more bluebell facts

Find out all about bluebells, including if they’re poisonous, when to see them and lots of other bluebell facts. 

Hannah Vickers  •  06 Apr 2020

Blog

When do bluebells flower in the UK? 

Mark your calendars! Find out when bluebells flower, where to see them, what they smell like and how they're protected.

Hanako Shimada  •  17 Feb 2026

Blog

How to grow native bluebells in your garden

Why not try growing bluebells in your garden? Here are six good reasons why, along with our top bluebell growing tips.

Kate Lewthwaite  •  10 Mar 2026

Visiting woods

Bluebell woods in Scotland

Ancient woodlands. Rainforest retreats. Mountain views. Scotland's bluebell woods hit different.

Visiting woods

Bluebell woods in Northern Ireland

Inspiring views, wildlife galore and quiet time a-plenty – take a walk in one of Northern Ireland's peaceful bluebell woods.

Visiting woods

Bluebell woods in Wales

Wreathed in myth and legend, Wales' fairy tale bluebell woods are the perfect place to lose yourself in a sea of colour this spring.

Visiting woods

Bluebell woods in England

Escape the hustle and bustle with a tranquil springtime walk through one of England's most beautiful bluebell woods.

Partnerships

Watch: Celebrating agroforestry achievements and ambitions

To celebrate the successes of our long-running partnership, we met with Sainsbury’s colleagues to see the benefits of trees on farms first-hand. Watch the film.

Blog

Children's spring crafts: 11 easy flower ideas

Discover 11 fantastic spring flower crafts for children, including tissue paper bluebells and finger-painted forget-me-nots.

Danielle Wesley  •  10 Apr 2026

Blog

Starling murmurations: what they are and where to see

They're one of the wonders of the natural world, and they're often right on our doorstep. Find a flock of sky-dancing starlings to watch for yourself this autumn.

Kayleigh Jacobs-Rutter  •  16 Dec 2024

Video

The Northern Forest

Watch our video on the Northern Forest and find out all the benefits this planting project will bring.

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Video

Torriano Primary School tackles climate change with Lauren Child

Watch the London school plant free trees with Charlie and Lola author, Lauren Child, to make a change for the better.

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Video

How to plant a hedge

Watch our simple guide to creating a new hedge, from marking out to planting and protecting your young saplings. 

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Visiting woods

Discover woods in summer

Lush green landscapes, glorious sunshine, rainbows of wildflowers – a visit to the woods in summer time is not to be missed. The days are long and the nights are short, so make the most of the woods in the daylight, smell the flowers, watch wildlife or even enjoy a picnic.

Video

Free trees reduce pitch flooding for Bradford AFC 

Watch Bradford City AFC and Woodhouse Grove School plant a tree for every goal scored last season and help flood prevention, improve biodiversity and create new woodland.

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Video

Woodland Carbon planting scheme: overview

Watch our film to find out more about our groundbreaking woodland carbon scheme, the support we provide and the far-reaching benefits for both you and the planet.

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Video

Unboxing your trees

Watch our unboxing video to see what will arrive when you order trees from our shop. All saplings are delivered for free, carefully packed and ready to plant.

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Visiting woods

Discover woods in spring

Our woods are beautiful year-round, but the jewel in the crown has got to be spring. As flowers bloom and wildlife awakens, the woodland comes alive with colour and activity. 

Trees woods and wildlife

Brynau Farm barn owl cam

Catch all the drama streaming live from our barn owl nest camera at Brynau Farm, nestled in the rolling Welsh hills.

Support us

Meet some of our volunteers

Find out more about the roles of some of our volunteer award winners and nominees from the last few years.

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Lionel Knobbs - volunteer warden

Find out more about Lionel's volunteering role and why he was nominated for an award.

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David Griffith - volunteer Observatree tree health surveyor

Find out more about David's volunteering and why he was nominated for an award.

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Bishop's Knoll Wood volunteers

Find out more about Bishop's Knoll Wood's volunteer group and why they were nominated for an award.

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Trees woods and wildlife

Red campion

These flashy woodland guardians have strong links to myths and mysticism. They are favourites of plenty of woodland insects – and fairies – and bloom a cheerful pink soon after the bluebell has finished flowering.

Blog

11 waterfall walks to visit in our woods

From gently tumbling streams to powerful cascades, waterfalls are mesmerising. Check out the best waterfall walks in and around our woods across the UK.

Charlie Mellor  •  15 Jan 2021

Blog

7 amazing woodland wildlife walks in Scotland

From otters and ospreys to fascinating fungi and flowers, Scotland's wildlife and scenery are spectacular. Check out 7 of our favourite woods for wildlife walks.

Charlie Mellor  •  15 Jul 2022

Blog

First signs of spring in UK nature: what to look for and why it matters

Discover when spring starts and the key signs to look for in nature, from frogspawn and blossom to bees and butterflies, plus why these changes matter.

Charlie Mellor  •  20 Mar 2026

Blog

How to attract butterflies to your garden

Learn how to encourage butterflies into your garden with butterfly-friendly plants, butterfly feeders and more.

Danielle Wesley  •  13 Mar 2020

Blog

Wildflowers for bees: how to attract bees to your garden

Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. But there are things you can do in your garden to help reverse this trend including increasing food and habitat. Includes our top nine bee-friendly wildflowers to plant in your garden.

Helen Keating  •  18 Mar 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Peacock

Big. Bold. Beautiful. This stunning showstopper is instantly recognisable, with its captivating azure ‘eyes’ and orange-brown wings. Widespread and common throughout the UK, it is one of our most-loved butterflies.

Blog

8 steps to achieving long-term mindfulness with woods and trees

Explore some woodland activities that you can take part in to gain positive health benefits.

Dr Julia Lock  •  22 Mar 2022

Blog

8 enchanting rainforests to explore in the UK

UK rainforests are even rarer than their tropical counterparts, and just as beautiful. Brimming with wildlife, entwined with local history and overflowing with magic, here are eight of the best to explore.

Charlotte Varela  •  12 Mar 2025

Blog

How to make a fairy door and more magical ideas

Learn how to make a fairy door with your kids, plus more enchanting forest ideas such as magic wands, woodland potions and fairy tea parties.

Danielle Wesley  •  22 Apr 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Birch, silver

Pretty, pale, a symbol of purity. This common tree, with its silver-white bark, is favoured by gardeners who want to renew and purify their land for coming year.

Visiting woods

Frodsham Woods

On an abandoned golf course, we are creating a vibrant green haven for wildlife and people.

Blog

Winter wildlife watching: what, where and when to spot

The winter weather might be frightful, but nature is always delightful. Here are our top tips on what wildlife to look out for, where and when on your winter walks.

Rory Morrow  •  13 Jan 2025

About us

Review of the year

Take a look at the major milestones in our work for woods and trees between June 2024 and May 2025.

Trees woods and wildlife

Identify trees with our Tree ID app

Download our free Tree ID app for Android and iPhone to identify the UK's native and non-native trees. It's an A-Z tree guide in your pocket.

Blog

Tree ID for kids

Help youngsters learn how to identify trees through the seasons with our tree-spotting activities.

Danielle Wesley  •  02 Mar 2020

Video

Behind the scenes: building and installing the Brynau Farm barn owl nest box cam

Learn about the installation of a nestbox camera at Brynau Farm

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Video

How gifts in wills have made a difference: Sally's legacy

A third of all the work we do is made possible by gifts in wills. Emily Baum shares the story of her aunt, Sally Whitaker, and the growing new woodland she wanted to help protect for her grand nieces and nephews to enjoy. 

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Event

Mushroom growing workshop at Mourne Park

Learn how to grow native edible mushrooms on logs, which you can take home and enjoy once fully grown.

Sat 21 Nov 2026  •  Mourne Park, Kilkeel

Blog

13 Halloween nature crafts and activities for kids

Get set for spooky season with leaf ghosts, conker pumpkins, twig wands and a thrilling Halloween scavenger hunt!

Danielle Wesley  •  04 Oct 2023

Video

Hedging shelters outdoor gym

Community interest company Inspire2tri planted 60 free trees to provide useful shelter for a disability and older adult activity area in Rutland.

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Blog

10 camping activities for kids who love wildlife

Discover 10 wildlife-themed activities for kids and families to enjoy on a camping trip.

Danielle Wesley  •  02 Aug 2023

Blog

Wildflower quiz: name these 10 common wildflowers

Can you name these ten common British wildflowers? Test your wildflower knowledge with our quiz.

Helen Keating  •  11 Apr 2019

Blog

Minibeast hunt – top tips for finding bugs

Go on a minibeast hunt with your kids and see how many creepy crawlies you can find. Plus get tips on what to pack in your bug hunting kit.

Danielle Wesley  •  26 May 2023

Blog

What do frogs eat? And more frog facts

Frogs are carnivorous amphibians; UK species feed on a range of insects. Find out more about what they eat and learn how to build a frog pond.

Rachel Hoskins  •  18 Mar 2019

Blog

10 eco-friendly gifts for under £10

Our handpicked list of 10 affordable eco-friendly gifts will show you care for your loved ones and the environment too.

Charlie Mellor  •  23 Sept 2026

Blog

7 signs of winter in nature

Winter is a magical time, with crisp mornings and chilly starlit evenings. Discover when winter really starts and some of the best signs to look and listen out for.

Charlie Mellor  •  26 Nov 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Wood mouse

Despite being one of our most common woodland mammals, the small, sweet and secretive wood mouse is hard to spot. They feast on nuts, seeds and invertebrates and are an important food source for larger mammals and birds of prey.

Blog

Which birds migrate? Who you can spot this summer

Swallows, swifts and martins aren’t our only summer migrants – keep your eyes peeled for these species and record your sightings through Nature’s Calendar.

Charlotte Varela  •  12 May 2018

Trees woods and wildlife

Black grouse

An iconic bird which is becoming an increasingly rare sight. The black grouse is famed for its displays during the ‘lekking’ season.

Trees woods and wildlife

Capercaillie

The world’s largest grouse, the capercaillie is an impressive bird which has roamed pine forests for thousands of years. Made extinct in the mid-18^th century, it has since made a comeback, but is under threat of extinction in the UK once more.

Plant trees

Managing trees and woods

Explore expert advice on how to manage your woodland from planting to maturity and care for valuable ancient and veteran trees on your land.

Video

How gifts in wills have made a difference: Smithills Estate

A third of all the work we do is made possible by gifts in wills. The Woodland Trust's Tracey Garrett explains how important this support is to help our work at places like Smithills Estate - a landscape we're restoring to benefit both wildlife and local people. 

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Visiting woods

Discover woods in winter

See a different side to the woods. Wrap up warm for a walk amongst impressive icicles, frosted landscapes and glorious sunsets. Follow tantalising animal tracks in the snow and cosy up on a bench with a flask of something hot.

Visiting woods

Discover woods in autumn

A visit to the woods during this spectacular season is always a treat. Grab your woolly scarf, pull on your wellies and venture out into the crisp autumn air. Listen to the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and get swept away in all that this season has to offer.

Press centre

Woodland Trust opens Mourne Park

A rare ancient woodland wildlife haven has opened in Northern Ireland for the first time in over 500 years, with three new trails to help visitors explore.

Video

How gifts in wills made a difference to Fiona and Derek

A third of all the work we do is made possible by gifts in wills. Fiona and Derek Gardiner, long-time supporters of the Woodland Trust, share why they chose to leave a gift in their will and how important their legacy is to them. 

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Trees woods and wildlife

Comma

Tough, charming, rough around the edges. The comma is one of the few butterflies that is becoming more widespread, likely due to global warming.

Trees woods and wildlife

Brynau barn owls: your questions answered

We answer your questions about our Brynau Farm barn owls, the nest camera and their home.

Trees woods and wildlife

Arkaig ospreys: behind the scenes of a nest camera in the Scottish Highlands

No wi-fi, no plug sockets, no film crew. Meet the people behind the camera and explore the set of the UK's most remote family drama.

Protecting trees and woods

How to identify ancient woodland on your land

Think your wood could be ancient? Check our tips on what to look for on site and the historical records that could help.

Trees woods and wildlife

Dog’s mercury

A poisonous coloniser of ancient woodland, dog’s mercury is quick to sweep over the wood floor, sometimes outcompeting more delicate ancient woodland species.

Plant trees

How to grow a tree from seed

Growing a tree from a seed needn't be tricky. Find out how to do just that with our simple instructions.

Support us

What young people are doing for woods and trees

Empowering youth for a healthier planet: discover how we're shaping the future of woods, trees and wildlife together.

Video

How gifts in wills have made a difference: Avoncliff Wood

A third of all the work we do is made possible by gifts in wills. Find out more about the difference they've made to Avoncliff Wood, a beautiful wood in the Cotswolds that's also helping to combat the use of plastic on our estate. 

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Blog

Where and when to see snowdrops

Snowdrops are a symbol of hope and a sure sign that warmer weather is on the way. Find out when to see them and the best places to look for them.

Judith Garforth  •  13 Feb 2026

Press centre

More than 10 million trees planted across the Northern Forest

More than 10 million trees have now been established across the North of England as part of the Northern Forest scheme, which launched in 2018.

Visiting woods

Mourne Park

Thanks to your generous support, Mourne Park’s gates are open to all. Experience the wonder of Northern Ireland’s ancient woodlands, with scenic views, trails and rich wildlife waiting to be discovered. We invite you to be part of its story.

Support us

Woodland creation appeal

Donate now to support our vital work, including the creation of life-giving new woodlands. With your help, we can build healthy habitats where precious wildlife can thrive.

Blog

Early spring flowers quiz: 12 flowering plants and shrubs

Want to identify blooms spotted on a refreshing woodland walk or bring some early colour to your garden? Take our quiz to discover some of the most common early flowerers.

Charlie Mellor  •  16 Feb 2026

Trees woods and wildlife

Daubenton’s bat

A flying mammal with an aquatic edge. These bats are drawn to water, snatching insects from the surface of rivers and lakes.

Trees woods and wildlife

Green woodpecker

A colourful character with a taste for ants. The laughing cry of the green woodpecker is one of the defining sounds of British woodland.

Video

BBC Community Life Appeal supports Woodland Trust Northern Ireland

Tune into BBC NI this September to find out from the Woodland Trust how you can play your part in the fight against climate change.

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Video

Strengthen soils for improved farm productivity

Stephen Briggs adopted agroforestry on his arable farm to protect one of his most valuable resources: soil.

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Blog

10 eco-friendly New Year's resolutions

Whether you’re making a small commitment or a big change, here are 10 ways to do your bit for nature with an eco-friendly New Year's resolution.

Charlie Mellor  •  23 Dec 2021

Blog

What do robins eat?

Find out what robins eat in the wild and what you can leave in your garden to feed them.

Rachel Hoskins  •  01 Dec 2019

Blog

Ticks: what do they look like and how to remove them

Learn how to identify ticks and the steps you can take to avoid them when walking in woodland.

Rachel Hoskins  •  15 May 2019