Nick Mann
The top trees for wildlife in the UK. Our trees are fantastic resources for wildlife, among their other attractions! This list is of course not exhaustive; *all *our native trees have important roles to play in our ecosystem.
English oak (Quercus robur), king of trees. Supports more animal species than any other tree in Britain.
Goat Willow, Salix caprea, tough, attractive, easy and quick to grow. Early blossom a boon for bees, and leaves eaten by a wide range of invertebrates.
Myrobalan (or Cherry Plum), Prunus cerasifera, is going to become more and more important because of climate change. Fast growing, often grown as a windbreak, more accurately an archaeotype. Value for wildlife principally its very early blossom, which appears in February.
Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, quick and easy to grow small tree. Tough, adaptable, blossom in spring and fruit in the winter. Great hedge plant, fabulous for wildlife.
Common or Purging Buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica, is an upright, native shrub / small tree. Small yellow flowers attract bees, and foodplant of the Yellow Brimstone.
Nick runs an environmental business in Somerset. His particular enthusiasms are wildflower meadows, hedges and bumblebees.
