Douglas fir

(Pseudotsuga menziesii)

You feel very small wandering through a forest of mature Douglas firs – their straight trunks leading to a distant canopy where birds of prey feel safe enough to nest. One specimen near Inverness is thought to be the tallest tree in Britain at more than 66m. Brought to the UK from North America in 1827, the wood is used to make furniture, flooring, decking and beams.

KEY FEATURES: Cones have bracts that look like mouse legs and tail, while bark has deep cracks running up the tree.

WHERE TO SEE IT: England’s tallest tree (more than 60m) can be found at Nutcombe Bottom in west Somerset.