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Trees woods and wildlife
Ivy
Clingy, luscious, misunderstood. Ivy has long been accused of strangling trees, but it doesn’t harm the tree at all, and even supports at least 50 species of wildlife.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Stag beetle
Impressive, heavily armed and a formidable fighter. The stag beetle depends on trees and woods for its survival. Its fat larvae feed on the decaying wood of old broadleaved trees. Loss of its woodland habitat means that the stag beetle is now a nationally scarce species.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Grass snake
Stealthy slitherers. Grass snakes are lethal hunters of frogs, toads and other small creatures, but will rush for cover at the first sound of humans approaching.
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Practical guidance
Keeping rivers cool: shade for climate change adaptation
Practical guidance on using trees to shade rivers, helping freshwater habitats and species such as trout and salmon withstand the effects of climate change.
PDF (4.41 MB)
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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.
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Research briefing
Tree leaves as supplementary feed for ruminant livestock
We look at the value of different species of tree leaves as mineral supplements for livestock. Willow in particular is identified as a potentially valuable source of cobalt and zinc.
PDF (161 KB)
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Journal
Wood Wise – secrets of the soil
The spring 2016 issue of Wood Wise delves into woodland soil, its function, its species, the threats to its health, and ways to manage it for the future.
PDF (1.39 MB)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Common striated feather-moss
Cushions of feathery green moss strewn nonchalantly over the woodland floor, common striated feather-moss is one cool customer. It brings colour to shady places and it is a characteristic of old ash woodlands in particular.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Oxlip
A rare, charming flower. If you’re in East Anglia, look for them blooming in woodland in the spring.
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Blog
Types of mushroom in the UK: common identification guide
Fungi are a huge and fascinating kingdom. With over 15,000 species of mushroom in the UK, here are 13 common species to spot on your next walk.
Charlotte Varela • 17 Nov 2025