Beech trees are large native trees with smooth grey bark and oval leaves. They produce triangular nuts held in woody cases in the autumn which in some years, known as mast years, can occur in vast quantities.
Trees provide more benefits the older and larger they are.
Trees support 100s of other living things. This tree provides a large benefit to insects (biomass of foliage insects).
Hawthorn is one of the most common small trees. It is a lovely, rather unkempt, tree with masses of blossom in May, and red berries - or haws - in the autumn.
- May
Trees provide more benefits the older and larger they are.
Trees support 100s of other living things. This tree provides a large benefit to insects (biomass of foliage insects).
Hornbeams are fine attractive trees that eventually become quite large, but not quite as big as beech trees.
Look out for fluted, muscular trunks and serrated oval leaves, similar to beech. Drooping clusters of winged nuts become quite conspicuous in the autumn.
Trees provide more benefits the older and larger they are.
Trees support 100s of other living things. This tree provides a medium benefit to insects (biomass of foliage insects).
Italian Alders are tall graceful trees which keep their heart-shaped, or cordate, leaves well into December or even January in some years. Their leaves won't entirely drop off until striking acid yellow male catkins appear in February. Like all Alders, it has small cones similar to many conifers.
Trees provide more benefits the older and larger they are.
One of the parents of the hybrid Common Lime, this tree has small round heart-shape leaves. It produces wood that is ideal for carving.
A cultivar maintaining a neat conical shape.
Elsewhere on Hounslow Greentalk
Check out our Tree of the Month. Create your own tree-lined walk! Let your friends know.
To start the year off, the Winter Flowering Cherry takes centre stage...
People are often fooled into thinking that global warming causes these trees to flower in the depths of winter, but they are supposed to flower now. In fact, they flower from November all the way through to April. They are Winter flowering cherries (Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis'). There are two cultivars to see, one with white flowers ('Autumnalis'), and another with pink flowers ('Autumnalis Rosea').
Flowering can be a little hit and miss, they like it when the weather is milder, so you may not see many flowers if there's been snow or a frost.
Why not seek out some Winter Flowering Cherries for yourself, you can find them all over London.
Do you know that you can adopt a tree near you for free?
