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30 baby names inspired by trees and woods

Looking for a tree-themed baby name to inspire a love for nature? Discover our favourite tree names for girls and boys, plus gender-neutral options.

Danielle Wesley  •  09 Apr 2024

Protecting trees and woods

How to object to a planning application

If you are opposing a development threat to a wood or tree, you will need to make an objection in writing to the local planning authority.

Blog

What to do if you find a baby bird

Stumbled across a baby bird on the ground? Find out what to do to ensure its survival.

Charlotte Varela  •  14 Jun 2019

Plant trees

MOREhedges site plan guide

For us to consider your project we need an initial indication of the area(s) where you are considering planting hedgerows.

Plant trees

MOREwoods site plan guide

For us to consider your project we need an initial indication of the area(s) you are considering planting.

Trees woods and wildlife

Brown long-eared bat

Known as the 'whispering' bat for its almost silent echolocation noises, this little bat's huge ears make it an expert woodland insect hunter.

Blog

Baby bird identification: UK garden birds

Learn to identify garden bird youngsters with our guide to some of the most commonly encountered little'uns.

Amy Lewis  •  15 May 2020

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

Beech, common

Monumental, majestic, home to rare wildlife. Beech is an enchanting species and known as the queen of British trees. To wander beneath the leafy canopy, its cathedral-like branches spreading upwards, is an awe-inspiring experience.

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Campaign with your school

Young people have powerful voices. Encourage students to start an environmental campaign to inspire positive change for trees and woods.

Trees woods and wildlife

Acute oak decline

Our native oaks are under pressure like never before. They are declining at an unprecedented rate due to drought, flooding, pollution, pests and diseases.

Trees woods and wildlife

Hard fern

An evergreen beauty with not one, but two types of frond. Its medicinal qualities have helped treat ailments for centuries, while its leaves have been used to subdue hunger and thirst.

Trees woods and wildlife

Muntjac deer

Small and secretive. Muntjac are an attractive, but potentially damaging, addition to our woodlands, having been introduced in the 20th century.

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

Wheatear

These migratory birds are seasoned travellers, embarking on an epic journey from Africa to the UK each spring. They favour upland habitats and nest in cavities between rocks.

Trees woods and wildlife

Red squirrel

Bouncing bundles of bushy-tailed energy. The flash of a red squirrel leaping from branch to branch is an unforgettable, but increasingly rare sight in the UK’s woods. These charismatic creatures depend on woodland to survive.

Trees woods and wildlife

Greater stitchwort

Pretty, star-like and abundant along hedgerows. These plants have an explosive seed-dispersal mechanism. Disturb a large patch of them in summer and they go off like fireworks.

Blog

British newts: an identification guide

Learn to tell the difference between the UK's three newt species with our quick and easy identification guide.

Amy Lewis  •  19 Feb 2020

Trees woods and wildlife

Rowan

Bane of witches, diviner of the future and producer of jam, rowan is an elegant tree with a mystical history. Its leaves and berries are a favourite for wildlife in woods and towns alike.

Trees woods and wildlife

Hazel gloves fungus

An Atlantic rainforest specialist and a clue that points to a wood's ancient origins. It makes its home almost exclusively on old hazel trees and is a sure sign of clean air.

Press centre

Research shows only 12% of local authorities have an action plan for nature recovery

The Woodland Trust is urging local authorities to declare a nature emergency and take steps to restore severely depleted wildlife and green spaces in their communities.

Trees woods and wildlife

Otter

An elusive carnivore well-suited to land and water. With sweet-smelling spraint and a playful nature, otters are making a comeback. Find out what they eat, where they live and how to spot them.

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Fundraise as an individual

Set your own challenge, or arrange an event for friends and family to raise money for woods and trees.

Trees woods and wildlife

Brook lamprey

Reclusive, primitive and eel-like. The brook lamprey is an ancient and rarely seen fish found in the rivers and streams of several of our woods. It lives most of its life as a larva buried in the silty stream bed before turning into an adult and swimming upstream to spawn - its last act before it dies.

Trees woods and wildlife

King Alfred’s cakes

Tiny fungi with an embarrassing story, King Alfred’s cakes are named after the king’s poor baking skills.

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Have a tree party

Celebrate the UK’s incredible trees and woods with an outdoor party or picnic.

Trees woods and wildlife

Elder

Feared by the devil. Favoured by foragers. Find out all you need to know about why elder is the very essence of summer.

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.

Trees woods and wildlife

Oak, red

Fiery, fast and spiked, the red oak is a fast-growing tree native to North America. It is often planted as an ornamental tree for its flaming autumn colour. Although it isn’t as valuable to wildlife as our native oaks, it’s popular with nesting birds and pollinators.

Blog

11 types of day-flying moth in the UK: an identification guide

The UK is home to a number of moths that are active during the day, many of which rival butterflies for colour and beauty. Which species might you encounter on a summer's walk? 

Amy Lewis  •  23 Apr 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Dark crimson underwing moth

A rare beauty – the dark crimson underwing moth startles predators with its deep red hindwings and depends on mature oak trees for survival.

Protecting trees and woods

Advice and support

If you own or manage an ancient wood, we can guide you through the restoration process.

Trees woods and wildlife

Brown trout

A powerful predator and an iconic British fish, the brown trout is a common sight in streams and rivers throughout the UK.

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

How to make an easy elderflower cordial without citric acid

This elderflower cordial recipe is very easy to make. It's the perfect way to capture the sweet, summery scent of the familiar hedgerow tree that is in full bloom now.

Helen Keating  •  07 Jun 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Jelly ear

Velvety and a little disconcerting, the jelly ear looks just like an ear growing off decaying branches.

Blog

How to identify elderflower and what to do with it

Elderflowers are an all-time favourite forager's treat. Get our top identification tips, along with ideas and recipes on how to use the fragrant flowers.

Helen Keating  •  03 Jun 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Common rough woodlouse

Hardy, hungry, excellent composters. The humble woodlouse munches its way through just about anything it can find and is an expert in recycling nutrients.

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Dedications

Be it a single tree or an acre of woodland with a personalised bench, your dedication will provide a long-lasting tribute that can be visited time after time – and support local wildlife too.

Trees woods and wildlife

Swallow

Symbol of summer and aerial acrobat. A bird with an instantly recognisable silhouette, the speedy swallow can out-fly most predators.

Trees woods and wildlife

Oak lace bug

An insect pest which attacks oaks, the oak lace bug can reduce growth and weaken trees. With number of other diseases already affecting oaks, the arrival of the oak lace bug would pose a serious threat.

Protecting trees and woods

Subsidence and trees

How do you know whether your home has subsidence? And how do you know if a tree is causing it? Find out more about subsidence and trees.

Protecting trees and woods

Saved: Lake Wood, Sussex

Take a detailed look at our team’s efforts to protect an ancient wood alongside local people and discover how our voices made a difference to save the site.

Trees woods and wildlife

Long-eared owl

Wise and regal, with an imposing stare and elusive nature. Our most nocturnal owl, with a penchant for recycling other bird’s old nests. It lives in dense woodland and is a skilful hunter.

Trees woods and wildlife

Mistletoe

Romantic, parasitic and poisonous, mistletoe loves broadleaf trees and provides an important habitat for woodland wildlife. Its leathery green leaves offer welcome colour among bare winter branches when much else is dormant.

Trees woods and wildlife

Glow-worm

Emitting an eerie yellow-green glow at night, female glow-worms use bioluminescence to attract mates. Not worms at all, they are actually beetles that lurk in lowland Britain.

Trees woods and wildlife

Ringlet

With chocolate brown velvety wings and a delicate trim, the ringlet is an understated yet attractive butterfly. Look out for its trademark bobbing flight as it travels through woodland glades.

Trees woods and wildlife

Willow, grey

A soft, silvery lover of damp woodland, the grey willow is a bit scruffy but full of charm. Caterpillars flock to feed on its leaves and its fuzzy catkins are an early pollen source for pollinators.

Trees woods and wildlife

Crab apple

A symbol of fertility and a forager's delight. Crab apple trees are associated with love and marriage and its small, hard fruits make an exquisite, jewel-coloured jelly.

Trees woods and wildlife

Poplar, white

Hardy, pale, magical. White poplar might not be native, but it is naturalised in the UK. It supports early pollinators and is an excellent coastal windbreaker, tolerating salty winds and exposure.

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.