Begin your Tree Knowledge with a Trail

Tree recognition is a journey that starts with a small step, whether that is a Christmas tree as a child or a deeper learning as you grow older...

Just identifying the ordinary varieties of trees we find in the UK can be surprisingly difficult. There are plenty of books containing various levels of identification information from helpful child level to comprehensive tomes. But there is no substitute for being at the tree to actually see what is written in the wood so to speak. 

This video combines a walk around traditional Bournville – home of Cadbury’s chocolate – with the Bournville Tree Trail map to highlights some of our most common urban trees.

The Cadbury family designed and built the village of Bournville in 1893, either side of a small watercourse, the Bourn. They were particularly concerned about the health and fitness of workers, and incorporated parks and recreation areas into Bournville, encouraging swimming, walking and sport.

There are many tree trails – often showing off the collector’s exotic portfolio in an impressive park – but these sometimes do not advance tree knowledge for the beginner. 

Bournville Park has a good sample of our basic trees. Bournville Tree Trail, written by the Bournville Tree Wardens, is my favourite educational tree trail. Ordinary trees are described with some identification clues. Best of all there is an answer enabling readers to test themselves and then see how close they were. A local tree trail is an excellent starting point for learning to identify trees. 

This pre-recorded film follows the trail through Bournville Village Green and Bournville Park choosing some of the trees to show and think about what the written tree trail tells us. 

How many do you recognise?

Contributor

The tree trail was devised by Steve Watson of Birmingham Tree People