Do you know your beech from your birch? Take our picture quiz to test your tree knowledge

1. 

   Which tree do these helicopter-like seeds belong to?

   1. Sycamore

   2. Beech

   3. Elm

2. 

   What tree is this?

   1. Beech

   2. Ash

   3. Birch

3. 

   Which tree do these berries belong to?

   1. Hawthorn

   2. Yew

   3. Sycamore

4. 

   What tree does this belong to?

   1. Horse chestnut

   2. Beech

   3. Oak

5. 

   This is a close-up of which tree?

   1. Yew

   2. Elm

   3. Birch

6. 

   What tree is this?

   1. Oak

   2. Beech

   3. Ash

7. 

   What are these trees called?

   1. Aspen

   2. Silver birch

   3. Rowan

8. 

   What tree is this?

   1. Maple

   2. Pine

   3. Aspen

9. 

   Which tree do these leaves belong to?

   1. Sycamore

   2. Aspen

   3. Field maple

10. 

    Which tree has these colourful branches?

    1. Rowan

    2. Hawthorn

    3. Pine

Solutions

1:A - Revered throughout history for their beauty, strength and longevity, the sycamore tree has a lifespan of 200-400 years in the wild (though some can live for longer than 500 years in cultivation). Its seeds, “winged samaras”, spin like helicopter blades as they fall, slowing their descent in order to be carried farther from the parent tree by the wind. Pretty cool, right?, 2:B - One of the tallest native broadleaf trees in the UK, the ash, which can reach a height of 35m, is currently under threat from ash dieback (or Chalara dieback). It’s a serious disease caused by a fungus and unless a solution is found soon, tens of thousands of ash trees are likely to die, changing our beloved landscape permanently., 3:A - Once a hawthorn’s flowers are pollinated by insects, they turn into those familiar deep red fruits known as “haws”. Rich in antioxidants, birds love them and, historically, they’ve been used in everything from herbal remedies and jellies to wine (a hawthorn tipple was thought to be good for the heart)., 4:A - Recognise those spiky green and brown cases? Horse chestnut trees house conkers inside these prickly husks (not to be confused with edible sweet chestnuts – horse chestnuts are mildly poisonous!). Despite conkers being a British playground staple, the tree itself is actually native to the Balkan Peninsula., 5:A - Those needle-like leaves are visible all year round and yew seeds (not berries, FYI) are called “arils”. Often seen as symbols of immortality due to their lifespan (the Fortingall yew is thought to be the oldest, with some guessing it to be a staggering 5,000 years old). Yew trees contain highly poisonous taxane alkaloids, which have been used to develop anti-cancer drugs., 6:A - It could only be a majestic oak with that familiar sturdy, spreading silhouette, couldn’t it? Did you know that the English oak supports more life than any other native tree species in the UK? Growing up to 40 metres tall, it’s one of the trees most often hit by lightning too, thanks to its prominent position on the horizon., 7:B - While that pretty white bark is known for staying white all year round and shedding its layers like tissue paper, from summer to around now, its falling winged seeds are spread by the wind, becoming food for birds and small mammals (impressively, the birch provides food and habitat for more than 300 insect species alone)., 8:C - Deadwood cavities in the aspen tree mean it’s a favourite with birds such as the woodpecker (it’s a popular food source for beavers, too). Aspens are known for clonal growth, which is when a plant makes copies of itself without using seeds (in this case, via its roots). The result? A colony of connected “cloned” trees all sharing the same root system, often living for thousands of years. , 9:C - Found growing in woods, scrub and hedgerows, the field maple is the UK’s only native maple (it’s also the smallest of the maples, around 10-15m tall). In folklore, the maple was thought to symbolise love and fertility – celtic mythology says it was dedicated to Dana, their goddess of fertility., 10:A - Otherwise known as the “witch wiggin” or “mountain ash” tree, you’ve likely spotted a rowan on your street or in a local garden (where birds go mad for its berries). Fun fact: it’s hermaphrodite, meaning each of its flowers has male and female reproductive parts and can produce both pollen and seeds.

Scores

1. 10 and above.

   You really know your trees, so why not go a step further and help protect the nation's woodlands. Since 1972, the Woodland Trust has planted more than 68 million trees and saved more than 1,000 woods – that's all thanks to the support of its tree-loving members. Sign up today and be part of something special.

2. 9 and above.

   You really know your trees, so why not go a step further and help protect the nation's woodlands. Since 1972, the Woodland Trust has planted more than 68 million trees and saved more than 1,000 woods – that's all thanks to the support of its tree-loving members. Sign up today and be part of something special.

3. 8 and above.

   You really know your trees, so why not go a step further and help protect the nation's woodlands. Since 1972, the Woodland Trust has planted more than 68 million trees and saved more than 1,000 woods – that's all thanks to the support of its tree-loving members. Sign up today and be part of something special.

4. 7 and above.

   You really know your trees, so why not go a step further and help protect the nation's woodlands. Since 1972, the Woodland Trust has planted more than 68 million trees and saved more than 1,000 woods – that's all thanks to the support of its tree-loving members. Sign up today and be part of something special.

5. 6 and above.

   Not bad at all! You know more than the basics but you could stretch those tree-ID skills even further by getting out and about in our beautiful British woods. When you join the Woodland Trust, you not only receive a directory of more than 1,000 free woodlands across the UK, you're also joining a movement that's committed to protecting precious areas that are under threat.

6. 5 and above.

   Not bad at all! You know more than the basics but you could stretch those tree-ID skills even further by getting out and about in our beautiful British woods. When you join the Woodland Trust, you not only receive a directory of more than 1,000 free woodlands across the UK, you're also joining a movement that's committed to protecting precious areas that are under threat.

7. 4 and above.

   Not bad at all! You know more than the basics but you could stretch those tree-ID skills even further by getting out and about in our beautiful British woods. When you join the Woodland Trust, you not only receive a directory of more than 1,000 free woodlands across the UK, you're also joining a movement that's committed to protecting precious areas that are under threat.

8. 3 and above.

   You're not winning any prizes for your tree identification skills, but there's only one way to fix that – with Woodland Trust membership! Sign up and you'll soon be inspired to spend your free time roaming in sun-dappled autumn woodlands, doing your bit to make sure that our precious woods are protected and there for us – whenever we need them.

9. 2 and above.

   You're not winning any prizes for your tree identification skills, but there's only one way to fix that – with Woodland Trust membership! Sign up and you'll soon be inspired to spend your free time roaming in sun-dappled autumn woodlands, doing your bit to make sure that our precious woods are protected and there for us – whenever we need them.

10. 0 and above.

    You're not winning any prizes for your tree identification skills, but there's only one way to fix that – with Woodland Trust membership! Sign up and you'll soon be inspired to spend your free time roaming in sun-dappled autumn woodlands, doing your bit to make sure that our precious woods are protected and there for us – whenever we need them.

11. 1 and above.

    You're not winning any prizes for your tree identification skills, but there's only one way to fix that – with Woodland Trust membership! Sign up and you'll soon be inspired to spend your free time roaming in sun-dappled autumn woodlands, doing your bit to make sure that our precious woods are protected and there for us – whenever we need them.

Join the Woodland Trust
Experience all the drama of the woods in autumn, and help nature and people thrive as a Woodland Trust member. Here’s how to sign up today