January 2015
About 99% of the deciduous leaves have fallen from the trees, leaving just the evergreens adorning our countryside. The only native broadleaved evergreen true tree that we have in Britain is holly (Ilex aquifolium). There is also box (Buxus sempervirens) but this is considered to be a shrub. Also known as the holy tree, we deck the halls with holly at Christmas. We only have three native conifers and they are all evergreen. These are Yew (Taxus baccata), Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). There are other evergreens in the countryside, but they are either not trees, such as the lovely climbing ivy (Hedera helix), winter roost for birds. Or else they are alien invaders such as Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) and cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). Alien invaders will invade natural habitats and eventually wipe out native species.
Other evergreens will also be alien, but not necessarily invasive, such as the occasional Wellingtonia tree also called giant redwood (Sequoiadendron gigantium) from California, thought to be the largest living thing by volume in the world. This is often planted in large country estates, and we have several around Uckfield. There is also the closely related coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), thought to be the tallest single living tree in the world. Other evergreens such as the Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the tree most of us have as Christmas trees, grown commercially, but not native, and ought not to be planted in natural woodland. There are many other conifers that have been planted, especially by the Forestry Commission in the past because they grow quickly yielding a quick return on timber sales. However, most of our birds and other animals are poorly adapted to these alien trees, and will not use them for food or nesting. Therefore it is advisable when planting trees in gardens to plant native species as these will attract more wildlife such as birds, butterflies and moths. Good examples of native small garden trees include rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) which has beautiful dark orange berries and delicate light green leaves in the summer, but will never grow very large, but is favoured by many birds. Another pretty tree is the field maple (Acer campestre) whose leaves turn a beautiful yellow in autumn. Yew is slow growing, but trim-able, and, if you get a female, has lovely red berries favoured by thrushes.