Tree-sure Hunt

Have fun on this tree-sure hunt – get it?

Trees are all around us, but do you know your birch from your beech? See if you can find these trees where you live using our tree-sure hunt guide for clues.

Alder

Alders are 18-25m tall and are found in woodland and hedgerows. This deciduous tree has dark green, shiny round leaves with serrated edges. When Alder is submerged it becomes as hard as stone.

Beech

This deciduous tree stands 10-35m tall and has a glossy dark leaf with a pointed tip. Nuts are held in a prickly four lobed casing.

The one or two shiny triangular nuts within each casing are called mast. Beech wood has been used for furniture making since ancient Roman times.

Horse chestnut

Horse chestnuts are 14-28m and are best known for their conkers.

Leaves have between five and seven leaflets. Horse chestnut trees arrived in the UK in the 16th century.

Oak

Oak trees stand majestic at 15-25m and produce 3cm long acorns. Leaves have three to six rounded lobes on each side. Oaks are found across the UK, often in ancient woodland. Oaks provide a rich habitat for hundreds of species from insects to squirrels to birds.

Sycamore

This widespread tree is 16-35m and you might be able to spot it by its spinning fruits which are called keys. They look like helicopter blades and spin through the air so they land away from the tree, often resulting in more germination.