What Are The Main Species Of Tree In Britain?

The main species (in terms of both hectares planted and economic value) is Sitka spruce.  This native of North-west America grows fast and can thrive in the very wet soils found in many parts of Britain.  Sitka spruce makes up over 50% of the trees planted on commercial plantations in the UK.  Most people don't really prefer the look of Sitka spruce, though.  As very mature trees (more than 100 years old) they can be handsome specimens, but most are harvested much younger than that (usually cut down around 60 years old).  So they look, at a glance, like any other unsightly conifer.

The next most common species are pines, including Corsican and Scots pine (Scots pine is the only native conifer that is grown widely for commercial value).  Pines do especially well in sandy soils, and are commonly seen in Thetford Forest and parts of Nottinghamshire. Scots pine are often grown as 'fillers' within Corsican pine stands, filling in gaps where a Corsican pine has failed to grow.  The Scots pine grows faster but is weedier (compared to other trees, provides less wood considering its height).

The most commonly grown hardwood species are oaks, followed by beech, poplar and a variety of other tree types.  The asthetic value of the hardwoods means that they have become popular as border species around large stands of conifers.