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Beech
Fagus sylvatica | Potentially a large tree, it can grow to 120ft (36m), it is too tall to be grown as a specimen tree in the average garden.
However, it forms an excellent hedge as it can be clipped closely. The leaves turn russet-brown in winter and will remain over winter if pruned in midsummer. It thrives in a wide variety of soils and will tolerate shade.
When grown as a tree the wood is quite pale and has a delicate figure. It is used extensively in furntiure manufacture.
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Bird Cherry
Prunus padus | Native to northern Britain, it grows to a height 20-30ft (6-9m).
It is common by streams in limestone areas.
Blossoms in May giving off an almond fragance.
The fruit can be used to flavour brandies and wines but the berries are only edible by birds.
In the middle ages the bark was hung on doors and put in the drinking water as a guard agains the plagu |  |
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Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around13ft (4m). It's white flowers appear from March onwards before it comes into leaf.
It forms a dense hedge - and can be quite invasive as it spreads by suckers. Many birds nest among its branches and it's fruit - sloe's- are made into jam wine and used for flavouring Gin.
Whilst it forms an excellent security hedge, care should be taken where young children are around as it produces strong thorns which can cause injury.
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Cherry Plum
Prunus myrobalana | 25ft (7m).
Spreads by suckering - ideal for hedging.
Thorny twigs make it an effective barrier.
Resembles Blackthorn but it blooms earlier (March) and foliage is not as thick. Fruits pale green in summer turn the colour or ripe tomatoes. |  |
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Cotoneaster lacteus
Cotoneaster lacteus | A medium sized evergreen shrub, growing to 3ft (1m).
It has small white flowers appear in early summer followed by red berries. The berries will last well into winter.
It will grow almost anywhere and requires only occasional cutting back.
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Dog Rose
Rosa canina | A native rose of hedgebanks and downland, it forms a medium sized to large shrub with strong prickly stems and leaves (5-7leaflets).
The flowers have are white or pink with a delicate scent.
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Dogwood
Cornus sanguinea | It can grow to 13ft (4m).
Greenish red flushed stems turn a rich purple in autumn. The flowers which appear in June, have a pungent smell which attracts insects. It spreads by suckers from the parent plant or by seed dropped by birds.
A native, it's wide variety of traditional uses means it has been prominent in the British countryside thoroughout the ages.
It usually occurs in chalk and limestone soils. |  |
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Elder
Sambucus nigra | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to 30ft (9m).
It usually flourishes wherever the nitrogen content of the soil is high and does well in rich neglected ground.
The plant colonises an area quickly due to its speed of growth.
Large instantly recognisable white flower heads appear in early July followed by a mass of small black fruit. The fruit and flowers make excellent wines and jams and are rich in vitamin C.
Often found in hedgerows, it is not recommended that it is planted in new hedges as it is agressive and will result in large gaps once establishe |  |
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Field Maple
Acer campestre | Native to southern England , a small tree which if left to grow will reach a height of 85ft (26m).
Makes an excellent dense deciduous hedge if regularly clipped. Trim in July.
Prefers sun or partial shade.
The leaves turn yellow and flush red in the Autumn.
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Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around 45ft(14m) if left untrimmed.
Also known as Quickthorn, Quick, or Maythorn it is the commonest hedgerow plant, forming a dense inpenetrable hedge. It's white flowers appear from May onwards with the characteristic red berries (Haws) providing feed for birds in autumn and early winter. |  |
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Hazel
Corylus avellana | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around 30ft (9m)
It can make a strong dense hedge if cut and laid, and makes an ideal hedge if interplanted with thorns and then laid.
It is traditionally used for hurdles, basketwork and occasionally used for walking sticks.
The nuts are edible and are eagerly sought after by many forms of wildlife. |  |
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Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus | Native to most of Europe, it grows to around 100 ft (30m), if left untrimmed.
If clipped it forms a dense screen which will retain some brown leaves in the autumn.
It tolerates shade and is more suited to wet soils than the visually similar Beech.
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Lavender 'Hidcote'
Lavandula ang.Hidcote | A compact shrub with narrow, grey-green leaves and stems 60-80cm (24-32in) high.
The violet flowers are produced in dense spikes, appearing in early summer.
It is frequently used to form a "cottage garden" dwarf hedge.
It succeeds in all typesof well drained soils and does particularly well in coastal regions.
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Wayfaring Tree
Viburnum lantana | Seldom growing to more than 20ft (6m), and common in the south of Britain on chalk and limestone soils, it does not occur naturally further north than Yorkshire.
Individual flowers make up the large white flower head which appears in May/June. The berries were once used to make ink and the wood was used to make the mouth pieces for tobacco pipe |  |
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White Berried Dogwood
Cornus alba | New stems will form a 6ft thicket which spreads each year when cut back to a few inches above ground level in March.
The young branches are rich red in winter. The fruits are white or tinged blue.
It succeeds well in wet or dry soils. |  |
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Wild Cherry
Prunus avium | Maximum height 60ft (20m).
It prefers clay soils over chalk and is a common component in beech woods.
When well grown and canker free it provides a valuable timber more quickly than any other broadleved tree.
The small red berries, whilst not poisonous, are not edible. They will however provide a feast for birds in early summer. |  |
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Wild Pear
Pyrus communis | Not thought to be native, it will grow to around 50ft (15m).
Suckers may form a thicket around the parent plant.
The wood is used for carving veneers and in the manufacture of musical instruments.
Birds eat the fruit which is bitter.
Mistletoe develops on the bark as a parasite. |  |
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Wych Elm
Ulmus glabra | Can grow to 100ft (30m).
Mainly occuring in the north and west of Britain, it flourishes on hillsides and near the sea and also in polluted atmospheres.
Unlike most elms it freely reproduces itself by seed giving it a greater genetic diversity and a greater resistance to Dutch elm disease than the common elm which often spreads by suckers.
The elm is used for the keels of boats and harbour work as well as being the traditional wood of coffin |  |
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Box
Buxus sempervirens | Slow growing evergreen shrub which will exceed 10ft if left untrimmed. Ideally suited for hedging as it forms a very dense screen which can be regularly clipped.
If left untrimmed will exceed 10ft(3m).
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Cherry Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus | A large evergreen shrub growing to 20ft (6m).
It is hardy and grows in most soils - except Chalk- and is commonly used as a strong heavy hedging plant - somewhat resembling rhododendron.
The leaves smell of bitter almonds when crushed and are poisonous to animals. |  |
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Common Broom
Cytisus scoparius | A native shrub growing to approximately 7ft (2m).
It produces yellow flowers in May and June.
Full sun is required, and the plant does best in poor sandy soil.
In a garden situation it requires pruning every year as new shoots will not grow from the old wood.
It is a common component of golf courses and is particularly suitable for seaside areas. |  |
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Gorse
Ulex europeus | Seldom growing above 6ft (2m), this evergreen shrub produces bright yellow flowers in spring and summer but may be in flower throughout the year.
It flourishes on light soils and being a member of the legume family is capable of fixing nitrogen and improving the soil.
It's spiny inpenetrable foliage has been exploited by golf course designers to provide areas of "dry water", with only the most determined golfer retrieving a ball following a wayward shot.
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Holly
Ilex aquifolium | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around 65ft (20m) if left untrimmed.
It forms an excellent evergreen hedge, growing everywhere except on wet soils. It will generally tolerate conditions that would be too harsh for other trees.
The wood is used for carving, inlay work and woodcuts.
Birds feast on the berries in winter providing for a pre Christmas race with those of us wishing to decorate their homes. The plants are single sex with only female trees bearing berries. A mix of male and female plants is therefore required to obtain winter berries. |  |
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Lawson Cypress
Chamaecyparis lawsonianna | The tree can reach a height of more than 120ft(36m) if left to grow.
Foliage is soft and light green with a purplish tinge on the shoot. Female flowers grow on the ends of small branchlets male flowers grow on the ends of branches and have black scales edged with white becoming red when ripe.
The long lived lawson cypress grows on a wide variety of soils provided there is sufficient moisture.
Generally planted for ornamental purposes, it is an ideal hedging plant - being less aggressive and easier to control than "Leylandii", yet indistinguishable to the majority of people. |  |
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Portugal Laurel
Prunus lusitanica | A large evergreen shrub and hardier than the Cherry Laurel.
It has dark crimson twigs and leaf stalks and can be formed into an attractive hedge.
When planted in game coverts it keeps the wood warm in winter -pheasants often roosting in its branches.
It will grown on shallow chalk soils.
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Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata | It grows rapidly in damp cool areas reaching a height of 83ft (25m) in 30 years.
The single upright leading shoot at the top of the tree distinguishes it from the cypresses that it otherwise resembles.
Being shade tolerant it is planted under other trees and can be used as a a nurse crop to shelter young slow growing broadleaves such as Oak - its branches do not spread and damage the surrouding trees. In parks and gardens the Western Red Cedar makes an attractive ornamental tree or hedge - and an admirable substitute for the otherwise ubiquitous "Leylandii" |  |
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Wintergreen Barberry
Berberis julianae | If left to grow it can reach a height of 8ft (2m).
The leaves turn bright red in autumn.
Whilst it forms an impenetrable evergreen hedge, care should be taken where young children are around as it produces strong thorns which can cause injury.
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Yew
Taxus baccata | Reaching around 50ft (15m), this round headed tree with dark foliage often has many trunks.
Yews grow especially well on chalk. They resist pollution well and can flourish in the shade of taller trees but little will grow in the shade they themselves cast.
When planted as a hedge and clipped, the Yew forms one of the most distinguished of screens.
The bark is poisonous and so is the cut foliage though horses and cattle can sometimes graze on living yew boughs without ill effect. The scarlet berries are harmless but their seeds are poisonous. |  |
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