identification guide

Sprig of Alder showing several leaves and three ripe cones

Ash Fraxinus excelsior keys in autumn, having turned brown

Scots pine Pinus sylvestris cones, one mature and one less ripe

Leaf and prickly seed case along with one chestnut

Silver birch seeds with detail of one individual seed

Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus winged seeds showing ripe and unripe paired seeds

Wych Elm Ulmus glabra leaf and seeds with close up of one seed

Small-leaved Lime leaf and seeds Tilia cordata with bract

Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum conkers both in, and out of, their seed case

London plane Platanus × acerifolia leaf and seeds, with details of individual seeds

Norway spruce Picea abies cone and individual seed

Spindle Euonymus europaeus bright coloured autumn leaf and berries

Guelder rose Viburnum opulus leaf and fruit showing shiny red berries

Field maple Acer campestre sprig showing leaves and developing seeds and close up of mature seeds

Hornbeam Carpinus betulus mature dry seed with bracts

Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum showing red spotted stems and variable leaf shape

Wood ant nest.  This nest belongs to the Southern red wood ant, Formica rufa.  Wood ant nests do differ between species, although it can be hard to tell them apart.

Nest and budded smaller nest of wood ant.  This budding often happens with wood ant species.

Mating during nuptial flight Formica rufa Southern Red wood ant queen and male

Worker caste of the Narrow headed ant Formica exsecta.  This species have curved backs to their heads.

Slender ant Leptothorax acervorum worker.  This ant is only 3mm, and although similar to the Shining Guest ant, has a darker and less smooth head.

Scottish wood ant Formica aquilonia worker. These ants are only modestly hairy.

Southern Red wood ant Formica rufa.  One of the most common species of European wood ant.

Shining Guest ant Formicoxenus nitidulus worker.  This tiny species is extremely shiny, and only 2.75mm long.