The autumn is a great time of the year to get out and about for a walk in the woodlands. This is a time of the year when the trees of the woodlands are really special, many of them start to change colour and drop their leaves.
Trees are a huge part of the natural world, and at this time of the year, many of them provide food for a variety of animals to see them through the winter months. Having trees around you is something that can help to calm and relax you. If you are fortunate enough to have a tree in your garden, it is a good idea to get a professional like this tree surgeon Gloucester based company geoffreyurchcontracts.co.uk/residential-gardens/tree-surgery/tree-surgeon-gloucester to come and have a look at it at this time of the year and to give it a health check before winter sets in.
If you are interested in finding out more about the trees that are native to the British woodland, go for a walk and see if you can spot any of these common native trees…
Oak – The English oak is one of the best known and loved trees in the UK. It has stories that date back centuries, from the story of the King in the oak, to the days of the ancient Celts, when the oak tree was considered a sacred tree and the door to another world – in fact, the name the Celts gave to this tree was Duir meaning door. Look for the lobed leaves and the acorns that it produces during the autumn.
Ash – This majestic tree has always been highly regarded as a firewood and also for making tools from. The ash tree has pinnate leaves similar to a Rowan but is much larger and does not produce red berries like the Rowan does, the ash tree fruits are known as keys. Sadly, ash dieback is affecting many ash trees in the UK and you may notice that small black balls of fungi grow on the dead wood of the ash tree – this is known as King Alfred’s cakes!
Hazel – One of the most widely found trees in the woodland that doesn’t tower as high as the oak and the ash. You can spot hazel by its hairy leaves and also in the autumn the hazelnuts that it produces which are delicious. However, the squirrels are also fond of them, so if you want to pick some for yourself you had better be quick!