What is a native tree?
The generally accepted definition of a British Native Tree is one that grew in the British Isles after the retreat of the last Ice Age some 10,000 years ago and before rising sea levels formed the English Channel some 8,500 years ago, thereby preventing the natural migration of other plants from the Continent.
Using this criteria and depending on the way they are categorised, there are thought to be between 30 and 80 truly native British trees. Throughout the world there may be as many as 100,000 tree species.
Some experts believe that the Strawberry Tree - Abutus unedo, was able to survive in the most southern parts of the British Isles throughout the period of maximum ice cover so could have a special claim to be our only continuously surviving native tree.
As the ice retreated, a few of the first tree species to re-establish were Birch, Willow and Scots Pine, such trees are often referred to as coloniser species. Some of the last trees to arrive before the formation of the Channel were the larger hardwoods such as Beech, Ash and Oak, which are often referred to as climax species.
English Yew (Taxus baccata), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and the Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) are thought to be the only native conifers.
