Life through a lens: British Woodland

The type of woodland that grows in Britain is known as temperate. It usually contains a mixture of broad-leafed deciduous and evergreen trees that like warm summers and cool winters. These woodland areas provide shelter and food for many creatures, as well as supporting a wide range of plants and fungi.

Talk about the different parts of trees in the woodland. What dual job do the roots carry out? What role in the structure of the tree is played by the trunk? What about the branches and twigs? Why do trees have so many leaves? Why do they produce flowers, and what method of dispersal carries seeds away from the parent plant? Link the different parts of the tree with the locations chosen for creatures to build their homes. Which ones like to nestle among the leaf litter? Who digs out holes around the roots at the base of the trunk? While some animals and birds like to nest in hollows and crevices, others favour building homes in the branches.