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There are three species of Lime that flower in June and July. The Broad-leaved Lime is native to Europe and Western Asia. It was probably introduced to Britain but now grows naturally in the lime rich soils such as those of the Wye Valley and parts of the Pennines. It...

                                                                                                                                The Elder Sambucus nigra is a shrub or small tree found in hedgerows and woods throughout Britain. It is also native to Europe, North Africa...

The London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) is probably a hybrid between the Oriental Plane and the American Sycamore, first created in Spain or southern France in about 1650. It was introduced to Britain in about 1680. It is now common in large gardens and parks and very...

Native to Albania and Greece, the Horse Chestnut was introduced to Britain in 1616 and is now common in parks, village greens and city streets. It is easily recognised by its leaves, its spectacular flowers in spring and its production of 'conkers' in autumn. It can...

The Common Whitebeam Sorbus aria is native to the south of England and south and central Europe. It grows best on chalk and limestone. It has been planted as an ornamental tree in many streets and gardens. The leaves are oval and toothed but their most obvious...

The English Oak is the dominant tree in most of Britain, particularly on the richer soils in valley bottoms. It has been planted everywhere in parks, gardens, deer parks and woods. It has male and female flowers on the same tree. Male flowers are on catkins and hang...

The Manchurian Cherry is native to north-east China, Siberia and Korea. It was introduced to Britain in 1910. It was 'discovered' by Richard Maack and registered in 1857. It has white flowers that resemble those of the Bird Cherry. It is valued for its beautiful bark,...

The Snowy Mespil, also known as the Juneberry, Snowy Mespilus or Serviceberry, is a deciduous shrub or small tree, originally from North America but now growing wild in Europe, including Britain. It is an ornamental tree planted widely in gardens for its delicate...

The Wild Cherry Prunus avium is widely planted in new woodlands, parks, gardens and streets. It has ‘single’ flowers. Note that a ‘single’ flower has 5 petals, a ‘semi-double’ flower has 2 rows of 5 petals and a ‘double’ has 3 or more rows. ‘Double’ flowers arise when...

Two trees come into flower at the same time  in early spring. The Common Pear has white flowers and the Norway Maple has green flowers. Viewed from a distance one tree looks white and the other green.The Common Pear, also known as the Wild Pear, is probably of West...

Blackthorn Prunus spinosa                                                                                                                                The Blackthorn is a small thorny tree or shrub, usually found in farm hedgerows, but often planted in urban areas....

Magnolia trees and shrubs are members of a very large genus containing between 120 and 230 species depending on the classification system used. The genus is named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol. It is an ancient genus with 'primitive' flowers adapted for...

Trees with spectacular foliage in Autumn.  Text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.  The  first photo is of the Aspen Populus tremula. This is a Poplar...

Flowering Cherry in spring with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.                                                                   ...

Four Urban Poplars with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.                                                                           ...

Cherry Plum with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.                                                                                 ...

Ash flowers in March - with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839. The Common Ash tree produces flowers in March before the leaves.  The...

Last Alder in Leaf - with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839. Italian Alders are the last Alders to shed their leaves and may still be...

Spruce or Fir with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.                                                                               ...

Identification of two False Cedars with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839. There are two similar trees named Cedars that are  not...

Medlar Tree  with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.                                                                                 ...

Spindle Tree in Autumn with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.                                                                       ...

Identification of two Deciduous Conifers with all images and text taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839. Not all conifers are evergreen. Here are two...

All images and text are taken from the book Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe published by Reed New Holland in 2017, author Alan Birkett and ISBN 9781921517839.    There are 2 native oaks in Britain, the English Oak and the Sessile Oak. From a...

The Claret Ash is now very common in parks and on streets, where it is planted for its spectacular autumn display, produced when its green leaves turn red or purple (claret). It is a cultivated variety of one of the natural forms of Narrow-leaved Ash with the...

My book was launched in mid September by Reed New Holland Publishers. The title is Field Guide to The Trees of Britain and Europe, the author is Alan Birkett and the ISBN is 9781921517839. The book is available on-line from Waterstones  or Amazon UK or from any...

Here is the cover of my new book, now titled Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe. It will be published in mid July.