How many British trees can you identify? It’s spring and 8th April. Location, the limestone escarpments of Scout Scar and Cunswick Fell. I show tree flowers, including catkins. Here are photographs, packed with information. And written clues too. Left: a deciduous conifer. The female tree flowers remind me of pineapples. Last summer's cones show in the background. In autumn, the needles turn gold and are shed.
Apparently, only one in fifty of us can name five British trees. See how you fare.
Apparently, only one in fifty of us can name five British trees. See how you fare.
On Scout Scar limestone this tree grows stunted through lack of water and nutrients, often growing on limestone clitter. Here is a taller specimen, its twigs ending in an upward flick. It has black buds. Tree flowers remind me of purple sprouting broccoli. They open to resemble delicate corals.
Winter woods show an aura of amethyst where this tree is found. Look at the colour of the bark and the fine branches. Here, it grows right on the edge of sheer limestone escarpment. I was attracted by those green catkins, and breaking leaf buds. Beyond, down in the Lyth Valley, an egret wades in water and curlew call.
Click on images to read the clues
An evergreen whose trunk can twist, spiral and writhe across the limestone and still put forth green needles. There's a mystery insect, cryptic colouring, in the centre of the far-right image. It's a mystery to me too. On a bright morning something gleamed from those matt needles, something lurking and tiny. You can make out brown zig-zags on its green wings. What is it?
Iconic Lake District, this tree overhangs beck and crag. Rooted neither in earth nor heaven, it's called a flogron. And it's possessed of magical powers. Hang it by the door to protect yourself from witchcraft. Here, it's coming into flower. One of my favourite things is to see heather in bloom as the red berries on this tree glow scarlet. It's a coincide I love.
Spring Arrivals New birds sing each day. The first swallow appears over Kendal Race Course and sand martins are reported along the RIver Lune. Willow warbler newly arrived and singing. A pair of wheatear glimpsed atop a dry stone wall, dipping below as two dogs bound through a breach in the wall into skylark territory. I hear lesser redpoll in flight - restless and on the wing. The days are warm, hazy and still.
EASTER QUIZ: answers are not in order of appearance. They need matching.
Silver birch, Blackthorn or sloe with bird singing ' I'm a little dunnock and here's my song.'
Ash, Rowan or Mountain Ash, Juniper with mystery insect
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