Veteran trees are the most long lived plants in our countryside. Some, such as oaks may have stood since the middle ages. Other, short lived trees like birch may only be a hundred years old but can still support a wealth of wildlife.

As trees age they tend to rot, split and form deeply fissured bark. All of these are attractive places for wildlife, whether its a woodpecker making home in a dead branch, or a beetle that consumes dead wood. In fact the more dead or unhealthy a tree may appear, the more wildlife it will sustain. Many invertebrates and fungi require these ancient trees, while the physical space on a large tree can support thousands of insects. This abundance of small animals draws in brids such as Treecreepers or Long Tailed Tits, who scour the tree for food.

Street trees appear in almost every town in the UK. Our tree lined roads are thanks to town planners more than 100 year ago, who first realised their value. They provide shade from the summer heat and shelter from the winter winds. The absorb noise and pollution, while breaking up the rigid lines of brick and concrete into more pleasing shapes.

Use the navigation bar on the left to explore other urban habitats or go back to Biodiversity in the National Park.