Spring Tree Identification Walk at Great Avon Wood

Build your confidence with identifying native trees in springtime.

Do you know your hawthorn from your hazel, your birch from your beech, or even your English oak from your Sessile oak? Would you like to learn more about identifying native British Trees? Come and join Neill Talbot from Avellana Ecology who will help you identify tree species and focus on particular features to look out for in springtime.

This walk will take place in the new “Wansdyke Wood” area of Great Avon Wood that has been planted with saplings and orchard trees this winter. The land runs alongside the old Wansdyke earthworks – a ditch and dyke system which over the years has grown up with a range of native trees which enjoy the wetter ground there. We will also look at the trees and other fauna in the wooded area running alongside the Publow Brook: this is a small stretch of ancient woodland and Neill will help identify the ‘ancient woodland indicator species’ that enable us to understand more about the age of these woods.

This walk is part of the Bristol Walk Fest programme of events. Please check out the Walk Fest Website to see the full range of events running from 1st to 31st May 2026.This is one of three tree identification events that will take place this year – each will explore a different season and a different part of the Great Avon Wood site. Look out for our summer and autumn walks too.

Further details and full travel directions will be sent out when you register your place. Please be aware that there are no hardstanding paths at Great Avon Wood and we are not able to allow dogs at events except for assistance dogs.
This event is free to attend and we are very grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support. We ask that you are respectful of the free place and make a commitment to attend when you sign up.

Photo of Hawthorn blossom by Susan Barker.