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Trees woods and wildlife

Oak trees and wildlife

Our fantastic oaks support more life than any other UK native tree. Discover which species live and feed on oak, from foxes and fungi to bats and beetles.

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

Swift

Super-fast flyers living almost their entire life on the wing. Swifts are summer visitors to the UK whose numbers have suffered a worrying decline.

Trees woods and wildlife

Jay

A highly intelligent loudmouth. The jay is known for its love of acorns which it often leaves hidden. These forgotten snacks are credited with the rapid spread of oaks after the last Ice Age.

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Witches' brooms: what they look like and why they form

Witches' brooms look like a dense tangled bird nest. But what are they and what causes them?

Annabel Kemp  •  12 Nov 2024

Trees woods and wildlife

Hop

A twining hedgerow climber with a boozy use, hop has been used in the beer-making industry for centuries. Look out for it across the UK.

Trees woods and wildlife

Enchanter’s nightshade

Delicate, mystical, persistent. Find enchanter’s nightshade in woods and woodland edges, flowering in summer. Considered a weed in most gardens, this plant is just one part of the complex woodland habitat.

Blog

When do frogs spawn? And how to spot them

Find out when frogs spawn and the best time to spot these fascinating jellified clumps in ponds near you.

Karen Hornigold  •  18 Apr 2019

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