Trees For Wildlife

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How Do Trees and Shrubs Support Wildlife? Various species support wildlife in different ways. Flowers, berries, nuts, leaves, and even sap can be important food sources, while branches and foliage provide safe places to rest, nest, and hide from predators. Hawthorn trees provide a feast for wildlife, from spring flowers that are eaten by dormice and provide nectar for bees, to autumn haws devoured by birds. The dense foliage also provides a safe haven for birds. Rowan trees are popular with insects for their spring flowers and with birds for their autumn/winter berries. Birds typically prefer the red berries and eat them first, followed by orange, yellow and pink. Crab Apple trees provide wonderful spring blossom for pollinators, tasty leaves for caterpillars and colourful crab apples for birds and mammals. Mice, voles, badgers, and foxes will all enjoy its fruit. Pretty star-shaped flowers on Amelanchier are also attractive to bees and other pollinators, providing a source of nectar early in the year. As the seasons progress, small, dark berries ripen and are eagerly consumed by birds.