Broad-leaved Trees in Summer

Broad-leaved Trees in Summer is a study day at Tyland Barn organised by Kent Wildlife Trust for anyone who wants to learn how to recognise common trees by their leaves. Across classroom and field sessions you will build practical identification skills that work throughout the growing season, when foliage is the best guide to species.

In the morning the focus is on leaf characters and practical ways to distinguish trees using their foliage. The course explains why trees are formally classified by their flowers but shows how leaf shape, venation, margin and arrangement provide reliable, readily available clues for identification. Keys from Ros Bennett's recent work will be used and handouts will be supplied.

In the afternoon the group moves into the nature park around Tyland Barn to practise identification on living specimens. The site contains a good variety of native broad-leaved species, giving a chance to apply classroom learning to real trees and to consolidate your ability to identify a wide range of species by leaf features.

The study day is suitable for beginners and for anyone with an interest in trees. It is led by Ros Bennett, botanist and ecologist, who has written widely on plants and habitats. For further information and to book, please visit the Study Days page of the Kent Wildlife Trust website.