Blog - Tree of the Month

As the festive season arrives, the sweet aroma of roasting chestnuts is a familiar winter treat. Our tree of the month, the Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), is a naturalised species thought to have been introduced to Britain by the Romans. Mature trees boast majestic trunks with spiralling fissures, glossy serrated leaves, and spring flowers that support pollinators. With a warming climate, sweet chestnuts may become an increasingly resilient part of Britain’s woodland future. Discover how Westonbirt cares for these remarkable trees and their role in shaping tomorrow’s landscapes.

Tree of the Month: Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis) This month’s native tree is the wild service tree, an indicator of ancient woodlands and one of the UK’s rarest natives. Known as chequers, its autumn crimson-bronze leaves and edible fruit tell stories of traditional brewing, remedies, and music. Discover how Westonbirt is helping protect this remarkable species.

As autumn settles over Silk Wood, the modest Field Maple, Britain’s only native maple, takes the spotlight. Its golden leaves light up the paths as dramatically as exotic maples elsewhere. Learn more about this humble native, another one of the newly planted species by our community project in Silk Wood.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this month is the European pear.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this month is the common beech.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. This month it's the Italian alder...

This time last year, we met the first of our planting project species, the large-leaved lime, so to celebrate a year of the Silk Wood Community Planting Project trees, we’re looking at its smaller-leaved relative, the aptly named small-leaved lime.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. This month it's the Hawthorn...

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. This month it's the Wild cherry...

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. This month it's the Common alder...

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. This month it's Dogwood...

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. For the new year it’s the common walnut.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. It wouldn’t be December without mentioning our most festive tree – the holly.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. For November, it’s the alder buckthorn.

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this October it's crab apple.