Habitat – Occurs throughtout most of Europe across to Russia and Siberia. Occurs up to elevations of 500m. Typically grows beside rivers or streams, or on wet ground.

Appearance – Member of the birch family. Has dark grey fissured bark. Twigs are sometimes sticky to the touch. Leaves are up to 10 cm. in size with a waved margin and are almost circular in shape, sometimes with a notch at the apex, and tapering to a slight point on the leaf stem. The leaves have shallow irregular teeth and remain on the tree quite late in autumn.

Size – Can reach 25m in height

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – A native tree to Britain, it can be found alongside riverbanks, mixed woodland, and moist woods.

Appearance – Member of the olive family. The pale grey twigs of the ash tree bear black conical buds. They are set in opposite pairs and the tip of each twig ends in a single flattened bud, which is much larger than the rest. Produces seeds in pods called keys. Forms a pale pliable wood, which forms sturdy timber.

Size – Can reach up to 40m in height.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Appearance – One of the commonest British birds. Male is all black with an orange beak, but the female is dark brownSize – About 15cm in length. 

Diet – Berries, insects and worms.

Behaviour – A territorial bird with a mellow fluty song.

Habitat – Likes moist, well drained acidic soils. Thought to be a native of southern Britain.

Appearance – You can usually identify them from the dead rusty-brown foliage still clinging to their branches during winter months. Slender twigs bear long, narrow brown buds, which taper to a sharp point. Smooth silver grey coloured bark. Oval shiny leaves with a subtle wavy edge that change colour in autumn. The seeds known as “beech mast” are prickly leather cased nuts that fall in September to October.

Size – Around 40m.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Suitable for hedging, very undemanding of soil and situation.

Appearance – Forms a dense shrub, which has spines along the branches, and some varieties have spiny leaves in addition. The shrubs have deciduous and evergreen varieties some have brilliant flowers and autumn colour.

Size – Usually less than 1.5m high

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Also known as wild hyacinth, found in woodlands, particularly those that have been coppiced. Nowhere else in the world do they grow in such abundance as the UK.

Appearance – Bulbous spring flowering plant. The fragrant bell-shaped flowers stand upright when they are in bud, but hang downwards when fully open. Arranged in clusters of 4-16 spikes. Have narrow long dark green leaves.

Size – Can grow to 0.45m

Picture taken at Culterty.

Habitat –

Appearance – Produces white flowers from March to April. The fruits of these trees are very popular for birds during summer months. Elongated leaves with slightly jagged edge.

Size – Generally quick growing. Grow to around 60-70ft tall.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Native deciduous shrub. Likes any soil but thrives in a damp condition. Found on woodland margins, scrub and hedgerows.

Appearance – The green stems flush red in autumn. Creamy-white flowers, about 10 mm across, have 4 petals hairy on the outside. They are arranged in flat-topped clusters on short, branched stalks and appear in June and July. The black, pea-sized fruits, each containing two stones, are ripe in September. Oval leaves on stalks that are 8-15mm long. Surface is covered in small hairs.

Size – Can reach 2.5m in height.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – There are three British Elms and a number of hybrids. Found in most parts of Britain, is known to seed itself abundantly every year in favourable conditions.

Appearance –

Size – Can grow between 30-40m.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Found throughout Britain on heaths and moors, preferring sandy soils.

Appearance – The leaves of the plant grow in overlapping pairs. Common heather bears small pink-purple flowers.

Size – Grows to a height around 50cm.

Habitat – May form undergrowth in woodlands,but can also be found in hedges, scrub and woodland edges. Native species.

Appearance – Slow growing evergreen shrub or small tree. Holly has tough, spiny dark green leaves and white flowers. The female bears fruit in the form of berries.

Size – Numerous varieties, but can grow to 10m high.

Picture taken at Culterty.

Habitat – Found mostly in woods and hedgerows throughout Britain.

Appearance – The stems of the ivy are covered with tiny hairs which grow into its support enabling the plant to grow higher. The ivy flowers in autumn, with berries starting to appear in December. They are green at first but gradually turn black when they ripen.

Size – Can climb to a height of around 30m

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Varies from coastal dunes to bogs. Trees that grow inland are usually larger then those grown in coastal areas.

Appearance – Evergreen. Flowers in May, with the seeds ripening from January to February. Produces a woody cone between 2.5 – 5cm long.

Size – Can grow up to 15m.

Picture taken at Keith Park.

Habitat – Found on lakes, small pools, slow-flowing rivers and coastal marshes within Britain. This is the most common duck and is the most widespread.

 Appearance – According to the RSPB the mallard is a large and heavy looking duck. It has a long body and a long and broad bill. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill, is mainly purple-brown on the breast and grey on the body. The female is mainly brown with an orange bill

Size – 55cm in length.

Diet – Acorns, seeds and berries, plants, insects and shellfish.

Behaviour – Can be quite noisy birds, becoming aggressive during the breeding season.

Picture taken at Culterty.

Habitat – Found throughout Britain, but thrives in damp areas.

Appearance – Fast growing evergreen. As the tree grows older, the side branches become horizontal, turning upward at the tip. Secondary branches hang downward from the main branches, giving the tree a graceful appearance. UK Safari note that the male flowers which are grouped together at the tips of the branches turn yellow when they release their pollen. Female flowers start off pink. Cones are grow up to 20cm long. Leaves are squarish in section and can last up to 7 years.

Size – 15 - 23m when mature.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Found throughout Britain.

Appearance – A deciduous tree that sheds its leaves in November. Flowers in May, with the leaves appearing prior to this in April. They have four or five lobes on each side, and no stalks where they join to the branches of the tree. At the base of the leaf there are rounded flaps on each side. Every year, around September, the tree develops its fruits called 'acorns'

Size – Up to 35m.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Likes rocky beaches and shingle, however will nest inland on gravel areas and riverbanks.

Appearance – Large stocky black and white wading bird with a very long orange beak. In flight there is a prominent white wing bar.

Size – Up to 44cm in length.

Diet – Cockles, limpets, crabs and mussels on the coast, but eats worms inland.

Behaviour – Has a shrill call sounding like kleep kleep.

Habitat – Can be found almost anywhere apart from the uplands. Highest density in populated areas.

Appearance – Also known as a rock dove. Come in all colours some blue-grey, some cinnamon brown, some white.

Size – Around 30cm in length.

Diet – Predominantly seeds and food scraps in urban areas.

Behaviour – Makes an gentle cooing sound.

Habitat – Found almost anywhere. Not a native to Britain, originating from the Mediterranean.

Appearance – Long ears, large hind legs. Recognisable white fluffy tail can be seen when rabbits thump their feet in warning.

Size – 40cm in length.

Diet – A wide range of plants including grasses, cereal crops, root vegetables and young shoots of meadow plants

Behaviour – Social animals that have a distinct hierarchy.

Habitat – Likes woodlands, parks and gardens. Prefers areas where there is undergrowth.

Appearance – Small bird. Males and females are identical. All brown plumage apart from vibrant red breast. Juvenile birds have a brown speckled chest.

Size – 14cm in length.

Diet – Insects, fruit, seeds and worms.

Behaviour – Aggressively territorial. Sing all year round with a high warbling note.

Habitat – Also known as the mountain ash. Deciduous native to all parts of Britain. Often inhabits harsh environments.

Appearance – Distinctive in autumn due to its red berries. Very hardy tree that can withstand frosts. The tree is slender in form. The leaves are compound and pinnate in form, meaning that each leaf is made up of matched pairs of leaflets on either side of the stem.

Size – A small tree, rarely exceeding 15m high.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Native British tree which is quick to colonise, preferring dry soils.

Appearance – White bark when mature with a fairly open crown. Flowers between April and May. The branches and small triangular leaves tend to droop downwards.

Size – Quick growing but short lived. Can reach heights between 60-80ft.

Picture taken at Hillhead.

Habitat – Found in most of Britain in damp deciduous woodland, riverbanks, parks and gardens.

Appearance – Flowers from January to March. The small white flowers close up at night time and open early morning to attract insects.

Size – Grows to 25cm high.

Picture taken at Culterty.

Habitat – An introduced deciduous shrub.

Appearance – The small pink bell shaped flowers are hairy inside. They are arranged in spikes of 3-7 at the tips of branches. Produces white berries in autumn. Forms large thickets.

Size – Can grow between 1-3m high

Picture taken at Keith Park.

Habitat – Can be found in towns and villages all across Britain.

Appearance – Predominantly brown with speckled marks on wings. Male identified by white patch under eye and black strip below beak. Grey patch on head. Female is duller in comparison and does not have the distinct male markings.

Size – 14-15cm in length.

Diet – Seeds and scrap food.

Behaviour – Noisy and gregarious.

Habitat – woodland areas, especially near nut trees

Appearance – grey coat, speckled with tan hairs, with white underbelly

Size – about 18 inches, weighing between 1 –1.5 pounds

Diet – nuts, berries, some vegetation, occasionally birds eggs and insects

Behaviour – active during the day, initially shy

Habitat – Native to Britain. Prefer to grow on chalky soils. Can tolerate pollution well.

Appearance – Slow growing evergreen, with a reddish brown bark. Foliage is poisonous. Flowers, which look like tiny buds, appear between March and April. Produces bright red berries, then seeds in September.

Size – Grows to around 15m high.

Picture taken at Crombie.