Understanding what kind of tree you are looking after, or simply looking at, adds a whole new level of enjoyment. It also acts as a pathway to learning about trees or a particular tree in much more detail.  

These are two of many apps available that have worked for us:

Woodland Trust Tree ID App

  • Leads you through a series of questions to narrow down the options
  • Great for learning how to identify trees without the need for the apps
  • Focussed on British and common non-native species
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play

PictureThis - Plant Identifier

  • Just take a good close-up photo of the leaves and see a number of options for what it might be.
  • Great for speed and less common species
  • Should be used with care before being definitive on more obscure species
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play

If you want to go deeper and value the traditional approach, the benchmark guidebook is:

  • Collins Tree Guide by Owen Johnson & David More
  • Available from local bookshops through: uk.bookshop.org