Lichen sparkling with frost

Some of the trees you can see in the woods include:
Alder, Beech,
Downy Birch, Blackthorn,
Bird Cherry, Damson,
Grand Fir, Hazel,
Holly, Larch,
Scots Pine, Rowan,
Spruce, Sycamore,
Goat Willow

Hazel Flower

Mid-March 2005. Female flowers of Hazel trees flowering. Look for the very tiny red spikes on the point of the bud. The male catkins shed their pollen on to the small red tassels of these female flowers, which ripen in autumn as hazelnuts.

Hazel Catkins

Beginning of Febuary 2005. Male tassels [lambs tails] provide the pollen for the tiny red female flowers

Alder Cones

The alder tree thrives in wet, boggy places because it is able to utilise the nitrogen from the atmosphere. In autumn the cones shed their bouyant seeds, which float until reaching muddy soil and germinate.

Rowan

In May and June the Rowan forms flat-topped clusters of small, creamy-white flowers. In autumn it's covered with  bunches of bright red berries. Providing winter food for the birds.

Birch in October

The Downy Birch is a native tree. It grows on heaths and moors on light soils. It is more tolerant of cold and wet upland than Silver Birch. The leaves have single toothed edges. The twigs and leaf stalks are downy. 

Contorted Pine

Some of the Scots Pine have a twisted contorted appearance like the trunk on the right. The growth of the trees is restricted due to a layer of iron, between the top soil and the gravel, the roots cannot penetrate through this.