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Trees woods and wildlife
Trees and woods: at the heart of nature recovery
Healthy woods and trees are the beating heart of abundant, nature-rich habitats. Our new reports show the central role they must play in nature's recovery.
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Press centre
DAERA's Forests for our Future programme fails to meet planting targets for Northern Ireland
At the programme’s halfway point, less than a quarter of new woodland have been created – well below the level required to meet the target.
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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.
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Event
Mindful walk at Langley Vale Wood
Unplug to recharge this World Mental Health Day as we practise mindfulness on a guided walk at Langley Vale Wood.
Fri 10 Oct 2025 • Langley Vale Wood, Langley Vale
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Blog
11 animals that live in the UK's rainforest
Discover the weird and wonderful animals living in our very own rainforests.
Annabel Kemp • 19 Jun 2025
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Blog
How and when to plant fruit trees
Find out how to choose the best fruit tree for you and your garden, when and where to plant them and the benefits they bring for wildlife.
Helen Keating • 05 Nov 2020
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Blog
Why do leaves change colour and fall off in autumn?
Autumn is the most spectacular season thanks to our deciduous trees. But why is autumn colour better some years than others? Find out why.
Helen Keating • 02 Oct 2020
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Trees woods and wildlife
Bank vole
Stout but speedy, the bank vole skitters around woodland and dense vegetation looking for blackberries, nuts and fungi. It uses its large ears to listen out for its many predators, such as the fox and kestrel.