Norway spruce

(Picea abies)

As we approach winter, there’s something rather magical about walking through a forest of Christmas trees on a snowy day. And luckily, Norway spruce are plentiful, particularly in the north, so you shouldn’t have to travel far to find such a place. Its ability to tolerate drought and to grow in acid soils means it’s now being trialled in a Forestry England project to determine which species are most resilient to climate change.

KEY FEATURES: Triangular-shaped trees with long cones and needlelike leaves.

WHERE TO SEE IT: Widespread throughout the UK. At Delamere Forest in Cheshire, more than 2000 have been planted as part of Forestry England’s resilience to climate change trial.