Trees are a source of beauty and tranquility. They're also part of our natural heritage. So why not get to know them better? This guide will help you identify many of the varieties you can see at the places we care for, including some that are thousands of years old.
Common oak
If there's one tree many people will recognise, it's the oak, thanks to its distinctive leaves and acorns. That's why they've been the logo of the National Trust since 1936.
The acorns and indented leaves of the common oak are arguably the most recognisable of any tree in the British countryside. However, there are actually two species of oak native to the UK. While their bark and leaves look similar, pedunculate or ‘English’ oak typically thrives in the lowlands, while sessile oak is more often found in the uplands of the north and west.
Oak trees can live for over a thousand years. Old oak are short and wide, and usually hollow, with rough bark. They often have dead branches still attached that can resemble deer antlers.
1 of 2
Ash
The size and shape of ash trees varies depending on their age and where they're growing but their distinctive leaves and seeds can help you to identify them. Sadly, the disease ash dieback is currently affecting many ash trees.
Ash ‘leaves’ are made up of an uneven number of smaller leaf-like parts, known as ‘leaflets’ – usually seven or nine but sometimes more. Their seeds, also called ‘keys’, often hang in clusters well into the summer.
In woodland, ash trees grow straight and tall but old ash trees in fields and parks are normally short and stout. These older trees have grey, cracked bark and there are often parts missing, such as sections of the trunk that mean you can see their decaying insides.
1 of 2
Yew
Yew trees are one of only three conifers native to the British isles and can live for thousands of years.
Yew are evergreen trees with short, soft needles. Female yew often have red berries in the autumn. Yew are found in woods and churchyards but rarely in fields as their foliage can be poisonous to some grazing animals.
In gardens, yew are often trimmed into topiary shapes, such as in the Sermon on the Mount Yew Garden at National Trust property Packwood House in Warwickshire.
The bark of older yew trees is a mottled dark reddish-brown and often flaky. The 2,500-year-old Ankerwycke Yew in Berkshire is thought to be the most ancient tree in our care.
1 of 3
Beech and hornbeam
Beech trees and hornbeam can be mistaken for one another but there are some important differences when it comes to identifying them.
Beech bark is generally smooth and grey and the leaves shiny green and oval, turning orange and red in the autumn. Very little grows under beech trees because they cast such a dense shadow. Beech seeds and nuts are contained in a husk and together they’re known as beechmast.
Hornbeam are easily mistaken for beech trees but their leaves are hairier, less shiny and have more prominent veins. When young, their bark is pale grey and smooth but as the tree gets older it develops a network of raised ridges and the trunk becomes flared at the base.
Our two native species are small-leaved lime and large-leaved lime, but they’re both quite unusual and we more often come across a nursery hybrid of the two, known as common lime. They all have grey bark and heart-shaped leaves.
Very old alder trees are relatively rare and tend to be former pollards – trees that have had their upper branches pruned – in wood pasture. Their bark is cracked and similar to oak.
The most distinctive features of sweet chestnut include their elongated larger leaves and the edible fruits (that you may have enjoyed during the festive season) inside soft spiny husks.
Given enough space, sycamore can become magnificent trees with foliage that has a cloud-like appearance from a distance. When trees are young, their bark is grey and smooth. It tends to become scaly and slightly pinkish with age.
Sycamore have a very distinctive leaf shape with five ‘points’. These are slightly more rounded than the leaves of maples and plane trees and often have a red stalk. Sycamore seeds fall to the ground spinning like mini helicopters.
The field maple is our only native maple. Although the trees can live for many centuries, they often don’t appear to be old because they don’t grow particularly large and remain very elegant. The bark on the trunk and branches is light brown and flaky. Field maple leaves are shaped like sycamore leaves but are only around a third of the size and with a less serrated edge. They also have similar ‘helicopter’ seeds.
1 of 3
Leaf-spotter guide
For more help identifying trees, take a look at our guide to the leaves of 14 of the most common trees to see in the UK.
You can even print it out and tick off how many you spot on your next ramble through the woods.
We care for 25,000 hectares (61,776 acres) of woodland, 135 wild landscape sites and more than 200 gardens, and have as many wonderful stories to tell.
Ancient trees are links to our past, they're species-rich habitats that support countless other organisms. Discover what makes a tree ancient and how to recognise them.
Learn about forest bathing, a way of relaxing and slowing down the mind by immersing yourself in nature. It can help reduce blood pressure, lower stress levels and improve concentration.
Trees provide vital habitats for a range of wildlife and are one of the best natural defences against climate change. This is why we're aiming to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030. Donate to Plant a Tree and make a difference.
Fungi play a vital role in the natural world, helping break down organic woodland material as part of the decomposition process. Learn all you need to know about these important organisms.
Celebrate the Lake District’s trees with us – ancient trees, veteran trees, trees on nature trails for families to enjoy. Here are some of our favourites.
Ash dieback is a fungal disease affecting the country’s native ash trees. As many as four out of five ash trees may be affected and, where the dying trees could cause a threat to human safety, we need to remove them.
