Most usefull trees in UK

[Broch]

Sorry for going off topic but I would like to say this is a common public misconception. The vast majority of UK woodlands would support more species if they were cut more regularly. Dense thicket stage regrowth supports far more species of flora and fauna than high forest with closed canopy and little light getting to the ground so reduced ground flora and shrub layer. Of course a percentage of old trees left to get very old and rot increases diversity but the average UK woodland with its average trees of 50-150 years old is not necessarily best left. This policy over 100 years led to drastic reduction in diversity in Epping Forest. Each woodland needs analysing, what is special and of value in this place? what do we want to get out of it in the long term?

So back on topic

Oak high tanin content of the heartwood makes it durable and also good strength. Ideal for timber frame buildings, coopered barrels, ships timbers.

Robin, I agree, that all comes under my heading of 'needs to be cut' but telling young kids how to make use of wood if they cut it down without telling them of the benefits of leaving it up is only part of the story. I manage a small wood so am well aware of how much cutting is needed to provide the diversity of habitat for our wild life as well as provide the timber for our use it's just that all the 'uses' were 'cut it and use it'. I have spent the last 16 years thinning and coppicing to get layers in my wood.

And, I would argue, that a discussion on the 'management' of trees should go hand in hand with 'what you can do with it when you've cut it' so not entirely off-topic

Cheers,

Broch

 

[yomperalex]

Willow and chestnut for weaving (plus asprin from wiilow and nuts from chestnut).

Oak for oyster mushrooms - easily identified and tasty.

Alex

 

[yomperalex]

Oh, and pine - resin, cone for fuel, needles for a vitamin c tea.

Alex

 

[Harvestman]

This is such an informative thread!

 

[bushcraftbob]

ok heres my tuppence worth:

Ash - good for axe handles, wood burns green, dead timber house cramp ball fungus
Willow - weaving (baskets etc), pain relief from salycilic acid in bark, good bowdrill wood when dry, saplings excellent for making withies.
Hazel - nuts obviosly! saplings again excellent withies, good bowdrill wood when dry, excellent for walking sticks, excellent for fence making, good wood for arrow making
Alder - very slow rotting and good wood to use where wood needs to be used in wet boggy conditions, sticks can be chewed up and used as toothbrush aswell!
Elder - elderflowers and elderberries excellent in drinks etc, wood excellent for handrill shafts and making blowpipes for the fire, dead tree house's the jelly ear fungus (edible)!

 

[redneck]

Trees only exist for climbing, ain't not no point to em otherwise!

 

[mayfly]

Have you seen the Woodland Trust British Tree Guide web site? Very good. Here is the link to the Sweet Chestnut entry. See the human uses section at the bottom. I'm a fan of this tree!

I am just about to plant 450 trees in a 4 acre edible forest garden along the lines of Robert Hart and Martin Crawford and the real challenge in such a garden is carbohydrates. Sweet Chestnuts have big potential.

 

[Loenja]

jus thought id bring this to the discussion:
www.pfaf.org

 

[Troglodyte]

Hi Barry

This is such a big subject that it is difficult to provide all the answers in one. My favourite has to be the Silver Birch - Betula Pendula which I think is a very attractive tree. The use of the birch is quite extensive but I have tried to list just some of it's uses below:

BIRCH - This is often known as the "supermarket of the woods" as it has so many uses. It is one of the first trees to establish on new ground growing rampently to high altitudes. The leaves are edible in early spring. The rising sugary sap can be tapped in the spring to drink or make beer, wine and vinegar. The bark is very impermeable to water and is good for making all sorts of containers for both for solids and liquids. Also good for making a very durable waterproof match box. You can dry distil an empryreumatic oil from the bark for the prep of leather. Saponin in the bark makes a good natural soap. It has been known for shoes to be made from the bark and of course there is the birch bark canoe. Green wood is almost like a soft plastic and is good for carving utensils such as spoons and nogins. The very fine dead branches ideally gathered hanging from the tree rather than the ground were and still are gathered to make a fagot. Basically a large bundle of the fine branches. Historically there was a whole trade supplying fagot sticks from the country to the towns for fire starting the kilns of tradesmen i.e. bakers and the wealthy persons fire. This is a fantastic kindling and my first choice for fire lighting even in the rain. Of course there was also the "birch" for school discipline and tied to the waist of the chimney boy sweep. Seasoned wood is a good fast burning wood. Indeed the green wood will burn on a well established fire albeit a bit smokey. In nordic regions the newly cut fine branches can be used to provide insulation on the floor of your tent or for sleeping on. Finally the fine roots can be used either whole or split to make great bindings.

Hope that is useful. Trog

 

[barryasmith]

Guys

Some excellent responses there and plenty for me to get on with. Keep it coming if you have anything else to add. I will share my results when compiled into a decent format.

Barry

 

[DavidJT]

Perhaps we are looking at the question the wrong way...

It could be argued that without the Yew (for bows) and the Oak (for tudor war ships), the country wouldn't exist at all?

 

[Harvestman]

Perhaps we are looking at the question the wrong way...

It could be argued that without the Yew (for bows) and the Oak (for tudor war ships), the country wouldn't exist at all?

Yes it would, but someone else might be in charge. Besides, we weren't the only nation building ships out of oak. Good historical point though. Wood has been a major part of our culture, development, and history, and has only recently being partially overtaken by metals and plastics. I'd probably bet that worldwide wood is still the most commonly used raw material.

 

[dwardo]

Would it be possible to have a post/thread that we could all edit and add our bit? Its great people add their own post but one location containing everyones input would be nice, if at all possible (Mods) ?

 

[Harvestman]

We've probably been too comprehensive in our answers for the original intention of the question. So...

For a really thorough answer, have a look here.

For a simple answer, Birch, for all the reasons given previously

 

[greensurfingbear]

You can use the leaves from horse chestnut to make a mild soap plus who doesn't enjoy a good ole conker match.

 

[leahcim]

1. Oak has more uses than any tree around except for palm trees including coconuts.
2. Pine is one of the best trees as well - there are more commerical uses for pines than probably any tree. toothpaste, paper, turpentine, the list goes on and on.
3. I am not in England, I am in America, but trees in America would be in order

1. Oak, Pine or all Conifers, maple, hickory, basswood, persimmon, then BIRCHES, followed by cherries, and willows. I would nut want to be without OAKS anywhere. with oaks and pines, you have everything you really need to get through the day.

 

[Native Nathan]

Easy any two about 8-9 feet apart with flat level dry ground between them

lol


Pine,
Resin is highly flammable
Resin can be made in to pine pitch glue
Pine pitch glue is also waterproof
Pine cones contain pine nuts which are edible
Young roots make great field expedient natural cordage
Pine needles are high in vitamin C and i love pine needle tea
Pine boughs make a good bed
Pines make a great snow shelter - usually

 

[sandbender]

"...In the days when plough where iron pear would was the favoured material for ploughs in the heavy clay soils around Somerset - perry pear tree wood ideal. There reason, the abrasive nature of the clay and acid nature of the land rapidly pitted & dulled the plough making it hard work as the clay stuck to the shear. On the other hand the clay gave a nicely fine sanded effect to the pear wood and it was not effected by the acid moisture so it continued to keep cuttingand not stick. And it was cheap and to hand.

Very interesting.

Great thread.

 

[Martyn]

Pine,
Resin is highly flammable
Resin can be made in to pine pitch glue
Pine pitch glue is also waterproof
Pine cones contain pine nuts which are edible
Young roots make great field expedient natural cordage
Pine needles are high in vitamin C and i love pine needle tea
Pine boughs make a good bed
Pines make a great snow shelter - usually

...and it's fast growing, is a source of turpentine, fatwood and it's evergreen and it smells nice. Although technically a softwood, some species can be very hard and dense and provide high calorie content for burning, though in fairness it's usually spitty and fast burning.

I would say it's a fight between pine and birch for the top spot in this list.

 

[mountainm]

Not sure - but would it be useful (for the scouts, less so for us) to list the most common trees/shrubs in the UK and then their uses, rather than the most useful tree - as the chances are you'll need to compromise based on what's available. Odds are if you're in a wood in the UK then there will be at least one of the following species

Beech
Ash
Birch
Oak
Sycamore
Pine
Horse Chestnut
Hawthorne
Elder
Holly
Willow
Hazel
Blackthorn
Rhododendron

In my experience (obviously up for debate) I think these are less common
Lime
Elm
Yew
Hornbeam
Sweet Chestnut
Apple
Pear
Alder