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British trees and shrubs to plant: 14 native garden trees

British trees pack a big punch in your garden. Make space for one or two you’ll have year-round interest and be supporting wildlife too. Here's our top 14 native trees to plant in your garden.

Helen Keating  •  08 Nov 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Hawthorn shieldbug

Leaf-munching minibeasts. The hawthorn shieldbug takes its name from the tree that it relies on for food.

Trees woods and wildlife

Poplar leaf beetle

A bright-coloured, picky eater. The poplar leaf beetle spends its time munching on the leaves of willows and, you guessed it, poplars.

Trees woods and wildlife

Chaffinch

Colourful characters. The chaffinch is one of our most common birds, but that doesn’t detract from its beauty.

Trees woods and wildlife

Oak bush-cricket

This champion of the woodland long-jump is a lot quieter than its other cricket cousins. The oak bush-cricket lives, feeds and breeds in trees and woodland.

Trees woods and wildlife

Common crossbill

Bright colours and big beaks. The crossbill is a striking resident of coniferous woodland, using its unusually-shaped bill to extract pine seeds.

Trees woods and wildlife

Kestrel

A hovering hunter that strikes from above. The kestrel is a common sight along woodland edges, using its razor-sharp vision to catch unsuspecting prey.

Trees woods and wildlife

Wood warbler

A woodland songster often heard trilling through the treetops, the wood warbler graces the UK with its rich song during the summer, before migrating to Africa for the winter.