This reflects the fact that oaks were seen to be sacred trees and often used in charms and talismans for protection.
#FolkloreThursday
Charlie, our Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, visited what could be the oldest oak tree in the Wirral, at around 450-600 years old!
Our magnificent oak trees are steeped in folklore! Did you know that carrying oak leaves would protect people from evil?
This project has been supported by The Tree Council and Defra through the Trees Outside Woodland Fund.
Species such as the white-letter hairstreak butterfly rely on mature elms to complete their life cycle, making this restoration work really important.
Trees have been planted across schools, parks, and farms throughout the county, including these recently planted elms at Yately Green.
These specially bred elms are able to withstand Dutch elm disease, helping to restore a much-loved native species and boost local biodiversity.
Elm trees play a vital role in our ecosystems.
Did you know that more than 20 million elm trees were lost during the 1960s and 1970s due to Dutch elm disease?
Thanks to funding from the Trees Outside Woodland Fund, Hampshire Forest Partnership has planted over 1000 disease-resistant elm trees across Hampshire this winter.
Dogwood leaves provide food for wildlife including micro-moths, while its berries are eaten by birds and mammals.
Dogwood.
This medium to large, native, deciduous shrub or small tree grows naturally across much of Britain, except for northernmost Scotland.
Small flowers can be seen in spring at the end of twigs in dense clusters, which are followed by small, black berries in autumn.
This edition of Tree Talk features an extract from Luke Barley’s new book, Ancient: Reviving the Woods that Made Britain.
Head over to Tree Talk to read more >> open.substack.com/pub/treetalk...
Me too!
Fabulous day with #REAP planting Leeds’s newest orchard thank to @thetreecouncil.bsky.social and trees supplied by @fruitworkscoop.bsky.social
Happy #InternationalWomensDay from Team Tree Council!💚
Today, we want to share stories from some of our wonderful female team members! 💚
Happy #FungiFriday!
Our Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, Charlie, spotted scarlet elf cup in Colwich. They can be found growing on decaying wood and branches beneath the leaf litter.
Did you know that in folklore, beech trees were believed to have the power to keep ancestors close? Some traditions suggest that a beech tree would stand as a memory of someone who had passed.
Our National Tree Warden Scheme Coordinator, Sam and Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, Charlie, were in Cannock Chase and decided to pay a visit to the Six Crones, which are a group of magnificent beech trees.
Thanks to a grant from our SP Energy Networks Community Tree Planting Fund, Scotland's leading rural university - SRUC - is researching the Miyawaki methodology (two plots, same design, different ground prep) and growing new learning opportunities all at once. 🌱
Book giveaway time!
Win a copy of Ancient by Luke Barley! Head over to our website to enter the competition now.
treecouncil.org.uk/competition
The London plane has distinctive bark with large plates that flake off, leaving creamy patches. As a result, it copes well with pollution, and was planted widely in urban streets and squares in the 18th and 19th centuries, changing forever the treescape of British cities.
We had a fantastic tree planting day at Stanton Low Country Park in Milton Keynes, with brilliant volunteers from Kiwa UK & Ground Control. We planted native tree species to create a new woodland space that will grow to support biodiversity and establish new nesting sites for local wildlife. 💚
Our Director of Programmes, Partnership & Comms, Clare, spotted the first cherry plum blossom of the year!
Who else has spotted blossom? Let us know in the comments and tag us in your photos!
Its scientific name is Prunus cerasifera. The word cerasifera means 'bearing cherry-like fruits'.
This planting is one of seven Tiny Forests that Earthwatch Europe will be delivering across communities in England this planting season, supported by The Tree Council and Defra through the Trees Outside Woodland Fund.
Using the Miyawaki method, Tiny Forests bring the benefits of woodlands into the heart of our cities and urban spaces: connecting people with nature, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing spaces to support wildlife.
Tiny Forests are small but mighty!
@earthwatcheurope.bsky.social was in St Mark’s Park, Swindon, planting a new Tiny Forest. They were joined by pupils from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Ferndale Primary School, plus members of the local community.
Spotting catkins on trees 🌳
Catkins are clusters of tiny flowers that grow on some trees and allow them to reproduce. Here are just some of the trees with catkins!
Just look at the size of that fungus!
Happy #FungiFriday! This is giant polypore, which is common throughout Britain and Ireland. It is a large fungus that grows in clusters, resembling woody plates. It grows at the base of trees or on buried roots.
What does the future hold for our oak trees?
Join us for a webinar panel discussion to discuss our upcoming new report, The State of the UK's Oaks, and its findings.
Tuesday 17 March, 2026, 2pm-3pm
Book here https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RyAaAp_EQ72AY8DxX2VpdQ#/registration
Happy #FolkloreThursday!
Today's folklore feature is the ginkgo biloba. Watch the video to find out folklore facts about this tree!
Charlie, our Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, spotted the Kirby pine, known locally as the broccoli tree!
This is a stone pine, which is a tree that is native to the Mediterranean region. Mature trees produce cones, from which edible pine nuts are extracted for making pesto.
