Mr Barky needs your help!Can you help him to identify the trees in the school grounds …

He needs you to be a Tree Detective ...

Leaf

Leaf Bud

What have you found on your tree ...

Flowers

Bark

Twigs

Fruits and Seeds

What does your leaf look like?

Simple Leaf shapeThe leaf is whole and not divided into

smaller leaves called leaflets.

Compound Leaf ShapeMade up of smaller leaflets that

are divided down to the leaf stalk

There are other Leaf types … can you think of any or maybe research other types of leaves to help Mr Barky find them all.

Simple leaf shapes ..The shape of the leaf can tell you lots about the tree ...They can be all shapes and sizes and can vary from tree to tree

Lanceolate/LinearLong and thin or lance-shaped. Three times longer than wide.

CordateHeart shaped

OblongLonger than wider, nearly parallel sides might have a pointed tip.

DeltoidTriangular-shaped

EllipticWidest in the middle tapering equally at both ends

ObovateWidest in the middle and tapers towards the base. Opposite to ovate

LobedEdge of leaf has finger-like indents that don’t come from the centre

Palmately LobedEdge of leaf has finger-like indents that come from the centre.

OvateEgg-shaped. Widest below middle and tapers towards the tip of the leaf.

OrbicularCircular or rounded outline.

Simple Leaf MarginThe margin is the edge or the outline of the leaf.

SerrateSaw-like teeth

around the edge

Doubly SerrateEach tooth on the

serrate margin also has its own

teeth

LobedDeep indentations around the edge

that don’t go right into the central

vein

EntireSmooth, unbroken

edge with no indentation or

notches

CrenateBlunt, rounded teeth around

the edge of the leaf

UndulateWavy or soft wavy edge of

the leaf

Compound leaf arrangement …

OppositeLeaves are in pairs, directly across

from each other on the twig.

AlternateLeaves are staggered, not directly

across from each other on the twig.

How do the leaves grow on a section of the twig …

Compound leaf shape …Is the compound leaf feather-shaped or hand-shaped?

Pinnately compoundThe leaves are feather shaped and are arranged each side of the centre stalk.

Palmately compoundThe leaf is hand shaped. The leaflets

grown from the same place at the top of the leaf stalk.

Compound leaflet shapes ..Select the shape that is most similar to the the individual leaflet …

Lanceolate/LinearLong and thin or

lance-shaped. Three times longer than

wide.

OvateEgg-shaped. Widest below middle and

tapers towards the tip of the leaf.

Compund Leaf MarginThe margin is the edge or the outline of the leaf.

SerrateSaw-like teeth

around the edge

Doubly SerrateEach tooth on the

serrate margin also has its own

teeth

LobedDeep indentations around the edge

that don’t go right into the central

vein

EntireSmooth, unbroken

edge with no indentation or

notches

CrenateBlunt, rounded teeth around

the edge of the leaf

UndulateWavy or soft wavy edge of

the leaf

Is your leaf hairy?Is their hair or little spines on the leaf.

Yes No

Where is it hairy? Where are the hairs or spines located?

BottomTop Stem

What colour is the bottom of your leaf?

Green White

What colour is the top of your leaf

LightGreen

Dark Green

YellowOrange

Leaf Texture and appearance …

Glossy and shiny in appearance Dull in appearance with a a wrinkly texture

Dull with 5 lobe like fingers None of these

Flowers

BARK

Bark

Fruits and Seeds

Fruits and Seeds

Twigs and Leaf Buds

Your Tree is …Oak (Quercus robur)• An Oak Tree can grow up to 40m tall.• It is a symbol of strength and survival.• The Oak is ‘king’ of British trees.

Find out more about Oak Trees …Woodland Trust - English Oak

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Oak trees growing in your area?

Flowers

Fruit

Oak leaves

Your Tree is … Ash (Fraxinus Excelsior)• An Ash Tree can grow up to 35m Tall!• Norse Vikings mythology called the Ask Tree ‘The Tree of

Life’.• Ash is one of the toughest hard woods and is used to

make lots of things …

Find out more about Ash Trees …Woodland Trust - Ash Trees

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Ash trees growing in your area?

Fruit Flowers

Your Tree is … Hazel (Corylus Avellana)• A Hazel tree can go up to 12m tall. • A Hazel tree can live for 80 years!

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Hazel trees growing in your area?

Find out more about Hazel Trees …Woodland Trust - Hazel Trees

Male Flowers

Female Flowers

Hazel leaf

• A White Poplar can grow up to 20m tall.• In Greek mythology the White popular is linked to

Hercules.

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the White Poplar trees growing in your area?

Find out more about White Poplar trees …Woodland Trust - White Poplar

Your Tree is … White Poplar (Populas alba)

Female Flowers

Male flowers

White Poplar leaves

• A Rowan can grow up to 15m tall..• It can live for 200 years• Its Celtic name means Wizard Tree.

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Rowan trees growing in your area?

Find out more about Rowan trees …Woodland Trust - Rowan Trees

Your Tree is … Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Fruit

Flowers

Rowanleaves

• A Sweet Chestnut can grow up to 35m tall.• It can live for 700 years!• The Romans introduced Sweet Chestnut to the UK

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Sweet Chestnut trees growing in your area?Find out more about Sweet Chestnut trees …Woodland Trust - Sweet Chestnut

Your Tree is … Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)

Male Catkins

Female Catkins

Fruits

Sweet Chestnutleaves

• A Blackthorn can grow to 7m tall.• It can live for 100 years!

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Blackthorn trees growing in your area?

Find out more about Blackthorn trees …Woodland Trust - Blackthorn trees

Your Tree is … Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Flowers

Fruits

Blackthorn leaves

• A Silver Birch can grow up to 30m tall.• It has bark like paper.• Up to 300 different insects can live in a birch tree!

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about Silver Birch trees?

Find out more about Silver Birch trees …Woodland Trust - Silver Birch Trees

Your Tree is … Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

Seeds

Flowers

Silver Birchleaves

Bark

• A Downey Birch can grow up to 30m tall.• It is very upright!• Woodpeckers like to make their homes in Birch trees.

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Sweet Chestnut Trees growing in your area?Find out more about Downy Birch trees …Woodland Trust - Downey Birch

Your Tree is … Downey Birch (Betula pubescens)

Bark

Flowers

Downey Birchleaves

• A Beech tree can go up to 40m tall.• Beech woods can be 1000’s of years old!• Beech is the ‘Queen’ of British trees.

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Beech trees growing in your area?

Find out more about Beech trees …Woodland Trust - Beech Trees

Your Tree is … Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Flowers

Seed

Beech leaf

• A London Plane can grow up to 35m tall.• They live for 100’s of years!• It was bought to the UK in the 17th Century.

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the London Plane?

Find out more about London Plane trees …Woodland Trust - London Plane

Your Tree is … London Plane (Platanus x hispanica)

Seeds

Flowers Leaves

• A Whitebeam can grow up to 15m tall.• The bark is smooth and grey• The whitebeam tree is compact and domed on top

Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Whitebeam Trees growing in your area?

Find out more about Whitebeams …Woodland Trust - Whitebeam

Your Tree is … Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)

Berries Flowers