Tree heights
Ten of the UK’s oldest trees
An almost perfect ratio
The ratio of coniferous to broadleaf woodland in the UK in 2018.
Woodland cover in Britain
The area of woodland in the UK in 2018 is 3.17m hectares.
This is 13% of the total land area in the UK: 10% of England; 15% of Wales; 19% of Scotland and 8% of Northern Ireland is woodland.
The lifecycle of a veteran oak
For the final 300 years of its life, a veteran oak tree undergoes a gradual retraction, shedding branches, until it eventually dies.
The life of a leaf
Throughout a leaf’s life, its colour can change hugely. Here is a guide.
1. Unfurling leaves: Mid to late April
Brand new leaves are an almost bile-coloured greeny yellow.
2. New leaves: Late spring to May
Often eaten by caterpillars, up to half of a tree’s leaves can vanish at this stage.
3. Mature leaves: Mid summer
Now toughening up and becoming bitter to deter herbivores.
4. Leaves turn: Mid autumn
Chlorophyll begins to be withdrawn from leaves, leaving them yellow- and orange-hued with xanthophylls and carotenoids. Colour change is blotchy at first.
5. Dead leaves: Late autumn
Leaves are now dry and dead, ready to separate from the tree.
6. Rotting leaves: Winter
Fallen leaves darken and decay over three years, returning nutrients to soil.
How many?
Carbon capture
The quantity of carbon stored by UK forest trees as wood. An additional 640m tonnes is sequestered in forest soils.
Tree breakdown
Growing money on trees
The “natural capital” value of services provided by trees – such as their role in maintaining air and water quality – in the public forest estate in England.
Yorkshire Tea and trees
Yorkshire Tea is planting a million trees over five years – with a bit of help from the Woodland Trust, UK schoolchildren and Kenyan tea farmers. Learn more at yorkshiretea.co.uk/yorkshire-tree
