The trees of Britain do so much more than look pretty. They are essential for a huge variety of wildlife, such as insects, birds and mammals. Planting trees in your garden will give you fruit, flowers, shade and shelter for years to come, as well as provide a vital support system for wildlife. Did you know that a mature oak tree can provide support for more than 280 species of insects?
Never be too quick to rule out welcoming insects to your garden. Many are predators to garden pests. For example, a ground beetle eats slugs. A family of blue tits can consume 100,000 aphids annually. Welcoming wildlife can help provide natural pest control.
Here are some examples of small trees that are perfect for the garden and support a wide variety of birds, pollinating bees and insects:
Common Alder
These are suitable for hedges and provide food and shelter for 90 species of insects. The cone-like fruit that grows on the alder provides crucial food for native birds like goldfinch and redpoll.
Ash
The flowers of the ash provide nectar for insects and seeds for both mammals and birds. The tree provides a habitat for more than 41 insect species. For help with trees on your property, contact a tree surgeon Dorset.
Beech
Also suitable for hedge growth, the beech nuts produced are ideal for birds such as chaffinch, tits and nuthatch. Squirrels and mice also feed from the tree during the winter months. The beech tree also provides a habitat for over 60 species of insects.
Wild Cherry
The red fruit of the wild cherry tree is useful for both mammals and birds in the early summer months. The flowers that grow in the spring attract bees and flies. For your tree requirements, contact a Tree Surgeon Bournemouth. What is a tree surgeon? A professional with expertise in tree-related care and maintenance.
Crabapple
Growing to an average height of 30 feet, this tree produces white or pink flowers that precede a small fruit. This bitter fruit is food for birds, badgers and foxes and the tree supports the existence of more than 90 species of insects.
Hawthorn
This is a small tree or shrub that produces strongly scented white flowers in spring which are loved by bees and many other insects. The red berries that grow provide essential food in winter for many species of birds, including redwings and fieldfares. Different moth species feed on the leaves and it also provides a habitat for over 149 insect species.
Small-leaved Lime
This tree can also be grown as a hedge and its sweet flowers draw bees in the early summer months. This tree is often found in limestone regions of both England and Wales and is host to more than 30 species of insects.
English Oak
Another hedge-suitable species, the oak is an important home for almost 300 species of insects. Whilst a large tree, growing to up to 115 feet when mature, it is suitable for being coppiced or pollarded.
Rowan
In spring, the rowan tree produces sweet-smelling flowers that are attractive to bees and a large number of other insects. The orange berries produced during the autumn provide essential food for small mammals such as hedgehogs, and birds. The rowan can survive even in exposed locations and supports almost 30 insect species.
