It is recommended to plant native trees wherever possible (excluding ornamentals or fruit trees) – trees that have spent thousands of years adapting to soil conditions, weather and wildlife. That is not to say you shouldn’t plant non-native species (japanese maples, himalayan birches and indian bean trees look amazing too), it’s just that you should think about how it will work in the environment you are inviting it into, just a little bit more.

Native UK trees began to recolonise the land after the last ice age some 10,000 years ago, making their way north from southern Europe as the glaciers previously gripping the land retreated north. Some 6,000 years ago, 75% of Britain was covered in woodland, which fell to an incredible 5% at the start of the 1900’s.  Now we are at around 11% cover but this is due to afforestation with non-native coniferous species, which now make up more than 50% of trees in Britain today.

Along with native UK trees, there are a number of native UK large shrubs that will reach tree size (and are commonly mistaken for trees themselves).

Non-native species of trees have been imported to the UK for 100’s of years and some now are considered ‘naturalised’.