Charlie, our Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, spotted the Kirby pine, known locally as the broccoli tree! This is a stone pine, which is a tree that is native to the Mediterranean region. Mature trees produce cones, from which edible pine nuts are extracted for making pesto.

Who wants to go on a walk and see some trees?

Happy Valentine's Day! 💚 Mutualism is a type of symbiosis where the relationship between all species benefits from their interactions. Today, we're going to share some examples of trees and other species sharing the love. 💚

This is yellow brain fungus! This parasitic brain-like fungus feeds on wood-rotting fungi such as rosy crust fungus. The best place to see it is in woodlands on deadwood branches of deciduous trees.

Happy #FolkloreThursday! In English Folklore, willow trees were seen as sinister, as they were believed to uproot themselves and stalk people passing by. How spooky! 👀 (c) Louise McGovern

"The end of winter - it is a really good time to see lichens in all their glory. Look at these beautiful colours on a field maple twig." - Jon Stokes, Director of Trees, Science and Research.

Without their cloaks of distinctive leaves, you could be forgiven for thinking that deciduous trees can all sort of look the same in winter, bare and twiggy.

Did you know that the sun won't set before 5pm until the 25th October. That's just what we wanted to hear! Brighter days are coming. 🌿

Lend us an ear! Our National Tree Warden Scheme Coordinator, Sam, spotted plenty of jelly ear fungus on her walk the other week. This gelatinous, ear-like fungus can be found upon rotting wood, all year round, with peak abundance in winter.

Competition time! We have five 1L bundles of fantastic Faith In Nature goodies to give away. Head over to our website to enter! treecouncil.org.uk/competition/

Spring is just around the corner on the south coast. Our Director of Trees, Science & Research, Jon, spotted the cherry plum blossoms about to burst!

Ian Turner, The Tree Council’s Senior Manager for Technical Knowledge & Data, possesses a wonderful flair for translating the majesty of trees through the lens of a smartphone. In his spare time, Ian operates two Instagram accounts, @turnerstrees and @the_tree_culture.

Our Director of Trees, Science & Research, Jon, shared a beautiful photograph of a cirl bunting on Friday morning. He said:

A beautiful morning in Cambridge earlier this week, sent in by our Communications Consultant, Becca. Don't forget to tag us in your tree pics!

Happy #FungiFriday 🍄‍🟫 This is candlesnuff fungus, it grows to 6cm tall and looks like a snuffed-out candle wick, hence the name! It is very common in the UK and can be found growing through mossy, rotting stumps. (c) Kayleigh Wright

Happy #FolkloreThursday 🌳 In British folklore, ash was known as the healing tree and rituals would take place. A child would be passed through the hole in the trunk of an ash tree to cure broken or weak limbs. If the parts of the tree stayed together the child would heal.

You can now watch live footage of the London Plane of Ely! Head over to our website to see how the tree changes throughout the seasons and to observe the ongoing work taking place around it. 🌳 treecouncil.org.uk/science-and-...

Snowdrops are a sure sign that spring is on its way! These were spotted by our National Schools Programme Manager, Katie. Who has spotted snowdrops?

Who else has noticed holly trees shedding their leaves?

Who is taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend? 🐦 Trees play a crucial role for birds, providing them with a place for shelter, nesting, food and more. Here are five birds that rely on trees. #BigGardenBirdwatch

This is the magpie inkcap, which is commonly found in deciduous woodlands, preferring beech trees and alkaline soils. #FungiFriday (c) Jon Stokes

Many Native American tribes consider redwood trees to be sacred beings. These trees are often viewed as protectors and have played a crucial role in the cultural practices, spirituality, and livelihoods of these communities for thousands of years. #FolkloreThursday

Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Head over to our YouTube channel for how-to videos, webinar recordings from National Tree Week, National Hedgerow Week and Seed Gathering Season, Young Tree Champions and more! www.youtube.com/@thetreecoun...

Thank you Savills volunteers for joining our tree planting day at William Torbitt Primary School yesterday!

A new panel of experts from across the sector has been convened by Defra and The Tree Council. The Tree Health Operations Forum will meet three times a year to assess the ongoing challenges facing tree health and establishment, and the effectiveness of interventions to combat them.

Our Grants Officer, Geraldine, shared this wintery scene from Glengarry, Scotland! Standing deadwood in the wild is a great habitat and we need more of it!

Long, yellow, male catkins appear on hazel trees in the depths of winter. If you look close enough you might be able to see the tiny red flower that belongs to the female part of the tree!

Trees provide us and wildlife with so many benefits! They improve health and wellbeing, improve air quality through pollution filtration, are great for flood management and sustainable drainage and much more! 🌳 💚 #nativetrees #treesofinstagram #lovewildlife #lovenature #nativeplants #uktrees

Our Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, Charlie, spotted shaggy parasol fungus! Shaggy parasol is common in the UK and Ireland, near woods and hedges. #fungi #mycology #lovenature #lovewildlife #fungiofinstagram #FungiFriday

Our Tree Warden Scheme Volunteer Engagement Officer, Charlie, spotted this beautiful tree mural in Birkenhead the other day! What tree things have you spotted recently?

Great news for Community Tree Nurseries! As part of the Growing Together programme, The Tree Council, together with partners M&G and Defra, is delighted to pilot this small grants fund to support existing community tree nurseries.

Spotted in Sheffield! 🌳 We have collaborated with Open Media and talented artists and photographers to bring the wonder of nature to locations across the country. The artworks will continue to feature on digital billboards operated by Open Media throughout 2026.

The wonderful world of lichen! Katie, our National Schools Programme Manager, spotted pixie cup lichen on a rotting fence post. This lichen is common throughout the UK, found in mossy areas.

How about a wintery evening stroll with the trees? We're starting to gain a bit more light in the evenings, so why not make the most of that beautiful evening sky! (c) Ian Turner #nativetrees #treesofinstagram #lovewildlife #lovenature #nativeplants #uktrees #britishtrees

Great news for Community Tree Nurseries! As part of the Growing Together programme, The Tree Council, together with partners M&G and Defra, is delighted to pilot this small grants fund to support existing community tree nurseries. Head over to our website to find out more > buff.ly/16Nd5U4

What a magical wintery scene taken by our National Schools Programme Manager, Katie! Who else has had snow this week? #FungiFriday #Snow #Snowday #Winter

Great news! Portsmouth City Council are offering trees at a reduced cost! Find out more below and celebrate Portsmouth 100 by planting a tree. www.portsmouth.gov.uk/nature-posit...

This particular frost is called 'hoar frost'. The word ‘hoar’ comes from old English, it refers to the appearance of the ice and the way the ice crystals form making it look like white hair. It forms when water vapour comes into contact with an object that is already below freezing. ❄️

Happy New Year everyone! It's the start of a brand new year, which means another year of celebrating our beautiful trees. What tree-filled activities do you have planned this year? 🌳 (c) Jon Stokes #nativetrees #lovewildlife #lovenature #nativeplants #uktrees #britishtrees

Sunrise behind an ash tree in the North Yorkshire Moors! ❄️ Beautiful wintery scene taken by our National Schools Programme Manager, Katie! Don't forget to tag us in your wintery snaps.

Day 12 of 12 Days of Treemas! 🎄 Our final 12 Days of Treemas entry is from our Head of National Schools Programme, Richard, with his favourite copper beech.

Day 11 of 12 Days of Treemas! 🎄 Next up is our Director of Trees, Science and Research, Jon, with one of his favourite yew trees. "One of my favourite trees, a stunning moss-covered layered yew, a really beautiful living ent!" #12daysoftreemas

Day 10 of 12 Days of Treemas!🎄 Next up is our Head of Communications and Policy, Matt, with his favourite oak tree in Liverpool's Sefton Park.

Day 9 of 12 Days of Treemas! 🎄 Next up is Clare, our Director of Programmes, Partnership & Comms, with one of her favourite trees, 'Barney', London's oldest London Plane. "It's gnarly, it's majestic, it's unique, it has 345 years of stories to tell.

Day 8 of 12 Days of Treemas! 🎄 Next up is our Grants Officer, Geraldine, with her favourite ash tree in Norfolk. "My favourite tree species is Ash and my favourite Ash is this one in Norfolk. It is in the same field as 5 other ash trees, all of which are dead or dying.

🎄Day 7 of 12 Days of Treemas!🎄 Next up is Maria, our Partnerships Officer, with her favourite red maple trees at Blarney Castle & Gardens in Cork, Ireland.

🎄Day 6 of 12 Days of Treemas!🎄#12DaysofTreemas Next up is Sara, our Chief Executive, with one of her favourite tree paintings discovered on a holiday in Switzerland. "One of my favourite trees discovered on a walking holiday last Christmas in the Engadin, Switzerland.

🎄Day 5 of 12 Days of Treemas!🎄 Next up is Jackie, our Shared Outcomes Fund Project Lead, sharing her favourite olive tree she saw on a holiday in Crete. She said it is her favourite as "it's thousands of years old and still going strong." 💚 #12DaysofTreemas

Day 4 of 12 Days of Treemas!🎄 Next up is Will, our Community Engagement Officer, with his favourite sweet chestnut tree in the grounds of Chirk Castle.

🎄Day 3 of 12 Days of Treemas!🎄 Next up is Katie, our National Schools Programme Manager, with her local North Yorkshire Moors downy birch. "I love the gnarly, knobbly form of a wise old downy birch and the wildlife that live in the cavities and crevices."