British timber species
There are around 33 native British species of trees, including three types of conifers (commonly known as softwoods). Native trees are the ones that colonised Britain after the last Ice Age and before they were cut off from the continent of Europe by rising sea levels. They support more birds, animals and other flora and fauna than introduced species.
A number of other species have become naturalised – in other words they grow wild here after being introduced from other countries.
Here's a list of all the native trees of Britain, plus the principal naturalised species. Not all of these are suitable for cabinet-making, of course. But there are many others, such as cedar of Lebanon, which are commonly grown in Britain and can be used in furniture. Timber grown in Britain is typically called "home-grown" in sawmills.
For more on native trees, visit the Woodland Trust's British Trees website. Or check out the Guide to Tree Identification at Woodlands.co.uk.
For images of timber types, have a look at the highly informative website of Capital Crispin Veneer, where I buy my veneer supplies.
Broadleaves (hardwoods)
| Family | Species | Botanical name | Native or naturalised? |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | Aspen | Populus tremula | Native |
| Black Poplar | Populus nigra | Native | |
| White Poplar | Populus alba | Possibly native | |
| Grey Poplar | Populus canescens | Naturalised | |
| Bay Willow | Salix pentandra | Native | |
| Goat Willow (Sallow) | Salix caprea | Native | |
| Crack Willow | Salix fragilis | Native | |
| White Willow | Salix alba | Native | |
| Walnut (Juglandaceae) | Common Walnut | Juglans regia | Naturalised |
| Birch (Betulaceae) | Silver Birch | Betula pendula | Native |
| Downy Birch | Betula pubescens | Native | |
| Common Alder | Alnus glutinosa | Native | |
| Hornbeam (Carpinaceae) | Hornbeam | Carpinus betulus | Native |
| Hazel (Corylaceae) | Hazel | Corylus avellana | Native |
| Beech (Fagaceae) | Beech | Fagus sylvatica | Native |
| Sessile Oak | Quercus petraea | Native | |
| Common (English) Oak | Quercus robur | Native | |
| Turkey Oak | Quercus cerris | Naturalised | |
| Holm Oak | Quercus ilex | Naturalised | |
| Sweet Chestnut | Castanea sativa | Naturalised | |
| Elm (Ulmaceae) | Wych Elm | Ulmus glabra | Native |
| English Elm | Ulmus procera | Possibly native | |
| Smooth-leafed Elm | Ulmus carpinifolia | Naturalised | |
| Rose (Rosaceae) | Rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | Native |
| Whitebeam | Sorbus aria | Native | |
| Wild Service Tree | Sorbus torminalis | Native | |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | Native | |
| Midland Thorn | Crataegus laevigata | Native | |
| Medlar | Mespilus germanica | Naturalised | |
| Wild Crab Apple | Malus sylvestris | Native | |
| Common Apple | Malus domestica | Naturalised | |
| Common Pear | Pyrus communis | Naturalised | |
| Bird Cherry | Prunus padus | Native | |
| Wild Cherry | Prunus avium | Native | |
| Myrobalan Plum | Prunus cerasifera | Naturalised | |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | Naturalised | |
| Pea (Leguminosae) | False Acacia | Robinia pseudoacacia | Naturalised |
| Holly (Aquifoliacae) | Holly | Ilex aquifolium | Native |
| Box (Buxaceae) | Box | Buxus sempervirens | Native |
| Maple (Aceraceae) | Field Maple | Acer campestre | Native |
| Norway Maple | Acer platanoides | Naturalised | |
| Sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Naturalised | |
| Horse Chestnut (Hippocastanaceae) | Horse Chestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum | Naturalised |
| Lime (Tiliaceae) | Small-leafed Lime | Tilia cordata | Native |
| Broad-leafed Lime | Tilia platyphyllos | Native | |
| Olive (Oleaceae) | Common Ash | Fraxinus excelsior | Native |
Conifers (softwoods)
| Family | Species | Botanical name | Native or naturalised? |
| Yew (Taxaceae) | Common Yew | Taxus baccata | Native |
| Cypress (Cupressaceae) | Common Juniper | Juniperus communis | Native |
| Pine (Pinaceae) | Scots Pine | Pinus sylvestris | Native |