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Trees woods and wildlife
Purple emperor
Despite its exotic appearance, the purple emperor is as typical of UK woodland as the mighty oak. It’s elusive and beautiful, but has quite the unsavoury appetite.
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Blog
Foraging in July: nature's best summer food for foraging
Here are our top six edible wild plants to look out for in July, with tips on what to look for and how to harvest, cook and eat them.
Helen Keating • 08 Jul 2021
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Trees woods and wildlife
Tree sparrow
Shy and sweet countryside-lovers. The tree sparrow is rarely seen around humans, but might be spotted in lowland farmland when there's some grain to snaffle.
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Blog
Christmas nature quiz
Test your knowledge of the plants and animals connected with our festive traditions.
Charlie Mellor • 11 Dec 2024
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Press centre
Over 900 Insect Species Identified at “Commando” Wood in the Scottish Highlands
Ecologist Ian Strachan discovers 946 invertebrate species in Scotland's Loch Arkaig Pine Forest, highlighting its rich biodiversity and historical significance.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Pine marten reintroduction: how we're helping and where to find them
Once persecuted to extinction, find out how we're helping pine martens make a welcome return to the UK's woods.
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Blog
12 rare wild flowers in the UK's woods
Woodlands are home to some of the UK's rarest wild flowers. From parasitic plants to alluring orchids, discover 12 rare woodland flowers and what makes them so uncommon.
Charlotte Varela • 13 May 2025
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Trees woods and wildlife
Caledonian forest and native conifer woods
For millennia, Caledonian pine forests blanketed loch sides and glen. Home to myth, legend, and rare wildlife, only a tiny fragment of this once vast landscape now remains. Other native coniferous woods include rare juniper and yew woodlands.
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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.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Oak bracket
Though it oozes a honey-like liquid, the oak bracket has a few less tantalising names. It lives off the heartwood of living trees as well as on deadwood. Also known as weeping conk and warted oak polypore, they belong to a group called butt rot fungi.