Types of Tree available
We have a selection of British native trees available, or nearly native - for example Sweet Chestnuts were introduced by the Romans so have been here about 2000 years We also have some deciduous trees which are trees that lose their leaves in the Autumn and some evergreens which retain their leaves throughout the four seasons. Normally we supply evergreens in the winter and deciduous for the rest of the year. The latest we can supply deciduous trees with leaves on is about mid November and at this time of year the trees will obviously be looking autumnal but nonetheless very attractive. The first leaves will appear on our trees in late February because we bring some on a little bit early by keeping them in a Polytunnel. You can choose what trees you would like. Most people leave it up to us and then we supply a mixture of whatever trees are looking particularly attractive at the time of your wedding. Some people are a bit more specific, and ask for mainly small trees, or they request a mix of for example 50% Oak and 50% others. It is also possible to e mail us a list of exactly what trees you want. Sometimes the trees are used as the basis of a seating plan so that there is the 'Oak' table, the 'Beech' table, the 'Field Maple' table and so on. They therefore order perhaps ten different types of trees and 12 of each type. If you let us know your requirements we will do our best to oblige. However if you require specific trees then it is best to give us a little bit more notice ie 3/4 months,so that we can put these aside for you and make sure we have some good examples of the trees reserved for your wedding. Below is a list of the trees we normally have available and a little bit of information about each type of tree. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) A British native tree which prefers to grow in damp soils but will grow anywhere.This tree has male and female catkins on the same tree. The female catkins are round and green and they develop into a dark brown cone like fruit containing the small wind dispersed seeds. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) A beautiful tre The Ash is the tree that was coppiced more than any other tree in the days of the coppice with standard type of woodland. The reason is that its wood is very fine and so is easilly worked by a carpenter or wood turner and it has a nice feel to it and it also is a little bit flexible so it is less likely to shatter or crack when put under stress. When it is coppiced , which was usually every 10 to 15 years it can live almost indefinately.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)Height: Up to 120ft Known as 'The Mother of the Woods'. Deciduous This tree produces small edible nuts called masts in the Autumn. These along with acorns were formerly important food for pigs but now are mostly eaten by badgers, deer and squirrels. Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) A native British tree but most of the trees growing wild are hybrids with ornamental apples and fruiting apples. The true wild Crab has thorns. The blossom is very attractive in Spring and the small apples have a lovely golden colour in the Autumn. However they do not taste so great, they are very bitter, but this does not seem to deter the birds and the fallen apples provide essential food for winter migrants such as Redwings and Fieldfares. Field Maple (Acer campestris) This small tree is Holly (Ilex aquifolium) This is a Holme Oak (Quercus ilex) (Not available at the moment) This tree is native to the Mediterranean,but was introduced to Britain over 400 years ago. This evergreen tree has spiky leaves similar to the Holly and it is often found in coastal regions. It is very tolerant of hot dry conditions. This fine example is growing at Holkam on the North Norfolk coast. There are Holme Oaks most of the way along this coast but ironically there are none that I know of growing at Holme next the Sea. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) A beautiful tree with delicate light green leaves. It is often planted as an ornamental. There are many fine examples around Birmingham. It is nonetheless a native British tree. It can also be used as a hedging plant as it takes clipping well. Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) Introduce The tree also produces very beautiful flowers in the Spring, which apart from causing a little hay fever are not dangerous! Lime (Tillia cordata) A British Native Tree which prefers chalky soils. It has delicate swe Oak ( Quercus robur ) Originally in Anglo Saxon times the Oak was important because the a Oaks are the most popular trees for gifts. Rowan or Mountain Ash (Sorbus acuparia) This British Native tree was often planted outside houses to ward off witch Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) A British Native tree which was formerly widely distributed throughout Scotland and Northern England. Now in its natural form it is restricted to the Scottish highlands. However it has been widely planted by the Forestry Commission but These are normally supplied in the winter but look attractive all year round. b Silver Birch (Betula pendula and Betula pubescens). These are two species of Silver Birch and they both are British Native trees, one has more drooping twigs and branches (pendula) and the other has leave Silver Birch are the first trees to colonise a neglected space as they have small wind borne seeds and they are quick growers, however they also only live for 60 to 100 years so This photo was taken in the Autumn with a dark cloudy sky behind but with the sun shining on the trees. This shows up the almost pink colour of the twigs. Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) This tree was introduced to Britain by the Romans so it is not British, but as it has been here about 2000 years we could perhaps accept that it is here to stay and be nice to it.The nuts
Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) Similar to R The berries are eagerly sought by the birds and squirrels. In Lancashire they were known as Chess-apples and used to be eaten when they were half rotten similar to the Medlar. Does not sound that tempting though.
______________________________________________________________________ Willow (Salix sp.) Height: Variable but can grow up to 80ft. Deciduous Willows will grow almost anywhere but they actually do better if the soil is quite wet. They are often cut bach to produce coppiced or pollarded trees.
Yew (Taxus baccata) Not availa Similar to the Holly in that this British Native Tree has male and female flowers borne on seperate trees so only female trees will produce the red berries. All parts of the tree are poisonous but birds love the sticky fruits and this is how the seeds are dispersed. The Yew was famously used in the construction of the English Long Bow. |
The Slate Barn Tel: 01366 386070
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e known as 'The Lady of the Woods' This tree I photographed in Derbyshire.
t often above 30ft. Deciduous
a British native tree, but probably only as far north as South Yorkshire. It will grow further north and it is a very attractive tree, especially in the Autumn when its leaves turn a rich buttery yellow.
British native tree but it sometimes grows more like a bush especially when it is younger. This is another tree which has male and female flowers except that unlike the Alder they are borne on separate trees, so only 50% of Hollies will produce the red berries. The picture is of a rare variety with yellow berries which I photographed in Derbyshire. The berries are much appreciated by the birds and the leaves are food for the caterpillar of the Holly Blue Butterfly.
d from the Balkans around 400 years ago, but now it is very common and well known for its 'conkers' which it produces every Autumn. These are soon to have a government health warning attached to them as playing the traditional game known as conkers can be quite dangerous and result in bruised knuckles.
et smelling flowers early in July. The wood is similar to Ash and is also much favoured by wood carvers.
corns were collected to provide vital feed for the pigs during the lean winter months. This practice was known as Pannage. Subsequently in Elizabethan times it became a major source of timber used in the construction of houses and ships.
es. The red berries can be used to make jelly and in parts of Siberia they are fermented, and distilled to make a type of Vodka, which is very nice! Thank you to Sacha and his wife for a memorable few days. However you can leave the berries on the tree and they look most attractive and will also provide food for birds like Thrushes and Fieldfares in the winter.
they grow it to produce timber so it is forced up into a telegraph pole shape which is not natural, In parts of East Anglia, particularly the Breckland region it has been planted as a wind break and here it grows more naturally and can look really attractive.
s covered with hairs (pubescens)
inevitably they get replaced by Oaks or Beech trees. 
produced by trees growing in Britain are not as big as the ones sold inthe shops which come from countries like Turkey and Greece. In France this tree is often coppiced to provide wood for fuel.
owan, in that it has white flowers and red berries, but the leaves have a dense covering of hairs on the underside making them look almost white.
ble at the moment.