EVERGREEN CONIFERS

It’s tempting to dismiss conifer woods as less interesting than deciduous trees but they provide welcome colour in winter and there is surprising beauty and diversity among our main evergreen species. Here are four to look out for on winter walks...

SCOTS PINE Pinus sylvestris

The Scots pine rises to 36m tall and can live for 500-700 years. Its bark is orange brown with larger plates and deeper fissures as the tree ages. Needles are blueish green and its cones can reach 6cm long.

YEW Taxus Baccata

Common in churchyards and associated with paganism and Christianity, the yew is Europe’s longest living tree. It grows to just 20m with reddish-brown peeling bark. Needles are glossy green above; matt grey-green below.

DOUGLAS FIR Pseudotsuga menziesii

Native to North America but cultivated in UK for its timber, this reaches 60m tall with grey, rough back and deep fissures. It has dense fragrant needles and longer, more slender cones than Scots pine.

SITKA SPRUCE Picea sitchensis

Another imported North American tree valued for its timber, the sitka spruce grows to 50m and has cylindrical cones 10cm long. Needles are flattened and particularly prickly. Its bark is purple grey.