Trees & plants

What are conkers and how do you find the best conker?

Prepare for battle with conkers this autumn
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Journey into Britain’s forgotten rainforests

When we think of rainforests, the Amazon or the Congo spring to mind, but Britain has its own share, full of wild character, thronging with life and in desperate need of protection. Guy Shrubsole tells the story of these secret forgotten habitats.
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Hawthorn tree guide: berry, blossom and why it's called the May tree

Learn all about the hawthorn tree, including what its leaves, blossom and berries look like, and why it is referred to as the May tree.
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Common lime tree: petals, leaves, caterpillars and symbolism

Learn all about one of Britain's most spectacular tree species with our beginner's guide to common lime trees.
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Hazel tree guide: catkins, nuts and coppicing

Learn all about one of Britain's most important tree species with our beginner's guide to hazel trees.
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Britain's most poisonous berries: 9 toxic fruits to avoid

They may look tasty but looks can be deceiving and these 9 poisonous berries should be avoided at all cost
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Elder tree guide: flowers, leaves and its power to ward off evil spirits

Elder trees are famous for their elderflowers and elderberries, but did you know they were once used to ward off evil spirits?
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Silver birch guide: the "most beautiful of forest trees – the Lady of the woods"

Learn all about the silver birch, including what its leaves and bark look like, its relationship with fungi and the unusual folklore associated with the tree.
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Beech tree guide: leaves, seeds and how to identify

Learn all about one of Britain's most adored tree species with our beginner's guide to beech trees.
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Holly tree guide: what it looks like, berries and folklore

Learn all about the leaf, berries and folklore of one of Britain's most festive tree species with our beginner's guide to holly.
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Horse chestnut tree: what its leaves look like, when it flowers and when conkers appear

Learn all about the leaf, flower and conker of one of Britain's favourite tree species with our beginner's guide to horse chestnut trees.
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Scots pine: how Britain’s only native pine flourishes in the wild glens of the Scottish Highlands

Tall and elegant, the Scots pine flourishes in the wild glens of the Highlands – come rain, shine or snowfall. Ecologist Andrew Painting reveals the secrets of Britain’s most tenacious tree
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Podcast: Listen to the poetry of moss in a Dartmoor rainforest with Elizabeth-Jane Burnett

Be soothed with a wonderfully cooling wander with poet Elizabeth-Jane Burnett in a wild rainforest on Dartmoor – in episode 11, season 16 of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast
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Guide to Britain's lichens: what they are, where to find them and how to identify

There are roughly 1,800 species of lichen in the UK, growing on stone, bark, even old leaves. But did you know they're not even a plant? Learn the amazing truth in our expert guide to lichen, plus the most common types to find in the UK.
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