Tree Identification Walks

Winter is the busiest time in the tree planting calendar and provides the perfect opportunity to get to grips with tree form and look as the branches are bare from leaves. Instead of relying on leaf shape, we will be looking at the texture of the bark and the shape & colour of the buds, among other features. Fiona will guide you through the natural history of the different tree species and offer insights into how woodland landscapes are created and managed today.

Trees are fantastic harbourers of biodiversity and are the carbon-sequestering lungs of natural landscapes. Learning how to identify trees can be the first step to understanding the British countryside and feeling more connected to nature. This walk is intended to help beginners feel more confident in identifying your local tree species.

The walk will be held in the grounds of the Farmers Arms starting from the car park and finishing there approximately one hour later in time for the community lunch. It will be a slow pace of walk but the ground will be uneven, slippy and wet, so wellies or boots are recommended.
Everyone welcome, including well-behaved dogs on leads.

About your tutor

Fiona Brewis runs a local countryside contracting business, Betula Environmental, offering services in tree-planting & aftercare, drystone walling, hedgelaying and more. She has completed several professional winter seasons of tree-planting, primarily in the West Midlands, and has worked as a Ranger and Woodlands Officer for organisations such as the National Trust and the Lune Rivers Trust. She has also worked for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, educating members of the public about nature and how to camp responsibly.