Getting the measure of trees

Carbon and pollution absorption among different species

Beech

Type: large broadleaf

Carbon amassed by 10 years old: 228kg Pollution absorbed per year: 155g

Wonderful at absorbing carbon and pollution. Beech trees have vast crowns, which suits shade-dwellers, such as bluebells, on the ground below them. The tallest native tree in the UK is a 45m-high beech which lives in Hagg Wood, along the River Derwent in Derbyshire.

Scots pine

Type: large conifer

Carbon amassed by 10 years old: 213kg Pollution absorbed per year: 98g

A common sight in the Caledonian pine forests of the Scottish Highlands, the Scots pine is also found in heathlands. Incredibly, they can live for more than 500 years. Large conifers tend to grow fast and absorb a lot of carbon in their early years, but this diminishes with age. They are less effective at filtering air pollution due to the low surface area of their needle-like leaves.

Silver birch

Type: medium broadleaf

Carbon amassed by 10 years old: 57kg Pollution absorbed per year: 58g

This tree grows quickly, its branches drooping attractively. It prefers to live in rolling hills, heathlands and dry woods. The silver birch can store only a quarter of what a beech can by the age of 10 years old.

Yew

Type: medium conifer

Carbon amassed by 10 years old: 13kg Pollution absorbed per year: 21g

Yews are long-lived – the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire, Scotland, is thought to be 2-3,000 years old and therefore the longest-lived tree in Europe. The species is often found in hedges and in churchyards.

Hazel

Type: small broadleaf

Carbon amassed by 10 years old: 30kg Pollution absorbed per year: 39g

Small and tough, the hazel can’t match its bigger rivals for carbon absorption, but still does better than medium-sized conifers. It can reach 12m in height. It can be found in ash, birch or oak woods, growing below their canopies. It is also commonly found in hedgerows.