Do you know your woods from the trees? Take the big British woodlands spring quiz

Get out into the woods to enjoy the sights and sounds of spring. Photograph: photographer Julie Howden/Julie Howden/Woodland Trust

Woodlands really do shine in the spring. They’re havens for wildlife – filled with blossom, bluebells and birdsong. But do you know what you are looking at when you’re out for a spring stroll? Our quiz will test your knowledge of the flora and fauna that make up a typical thriving woodland ecosystem.

1. Carpets of bluebells are common in late spring – where can we go to find them?

   1. Bluebells are associated with ancient woodland and are usually found growing under trees and hedgerows right across the country.

   2. Aren’t the Bluebells the band that sang Young at Heart?

   3. They usually grow in the middle of fields where they can get the most sun.

2. Can you identify wild garlic?

   1. Wild garlic has bell-shaped lily-white flowers with a sweet smell.

   2. It has long, pointed oval leaves with small white flowers on a thin stalk and smells very distinctively … of garlic!

   3. Only when it has been crushed and put into a nice pasta sauce.

3. Many fruit trees such as plums, cherries, apples and hawthorns produce blossom in the spring – why do they do this?

   1. To provide a great background for spring selfies on Insta.

   2. So that birds have something to eat when they’re busy making nests.

   3. Blossom is colourful and sweet-smelling to attract insects which will pollinate the flowers so that it can produce fruit.

4. Where do frogs prefer to lay frogspawn?

   1. They swim out into the middle of ponds and rivers to spawn in deep water, well away from people.

   2. Frogs are most likely to lay their spawn towards the edge of well-vegetated, partially shaded shallow ponds.

   3. I’m not sure, but it looks like they’ve put some in my bubble tea …

5. Blackthorn produces a flush of white flowers in spring, which will eventually turn into rich, blue-black fruit – what drink can be made from these berries?

   1. Sloe gin.

   2. Blackthorn beer.

   3. Buckfast.

6. Can you tell a song thrush from a mistle thrush?

   1. Yes – a song thrush sings but a mistle thrush doesn’t.

   2. Yes – a song thrush has dark green wings.

   3. Yes – a song thrush is more brown than grey, and the speckles on its chest are like upside-down hearts.

7. A whole host of moth species can be found in British woodland – how many are there?

   1. The only moths I ever see are the ones eating my woollen jumpers!

   2. Between 100 and 200.

   3. There are more than 2,500 species of moth in the UK – many are just as colourful and beautiful as butterflies.

8. Bats often roost in or close to woodland – why are woods and trees so important for these flying mammals?

   1. Woodland provides shelter, roosting places and a rich source of insects, which bats feed on as they swoop through the branches and treetops.

   2. They are very shy creatures and don’t like to be spotted out in the open.

   3. Their skin is highly sensitive to sunlight.

9. Beard lichens grow like mini grey-green shrubs or tassels hanging from tree trunks and branches. What does the presence of these lichens, which provide habitats, shelter and food for small invertebrates, indicate?

   1. That the tree hosting it is being slowly taken over by a parasite.

   2. The tree isn’t getting enough sunlight.

   3. That the air is clean.

10. Woodpeckers can often be heard drumming in the woods in springtime – what are they doing when they make this noise?

    1. They make the drumming noise in order to attract a mate and declare their territory.

    2. They’re using their powerful beaks to hammer holes in the bark of a tree to extract insects such as caterpillars, spiders and beetles, or to make a nest inside a tree.

    3. Drumming and headbanging? Obviously just doing a really good impression of Dave Grohl.

Solutions

1:A, 2:B, 3:C, 4:B, 5:A, 6:C, 7:C, 8:A, 9:C, 10:A

Scores

1. 10 and above.

   You’re a woodland wonder! You know a lot about the trees and wildlife around you and are able to spot a song thrush singing from the treetops – you can probably even tell an English bluebell from a Spanish one (and if you can’t, head to the Woodland Trust website to find out how)! You almost certainly love to spend time forest-bathing and spring may be your favourite season. When you’re out in the woods you’re tuned in to the various sounds and sights, and enjoy observing all the seasonal changes of the natural world. You’re ready to get out and spot the vital signs of spring and log them on the Woodland Trust website.

2. 9 and above.

   You’re a woodland wonder! You know a lot about the trees and wildlife around you and are able to spot a song thrush singing from the treetops – you can probably even tell an English bluebell from a Spanish one (and if you can’t, head to the Woodland Trust website to find out how)! You almost certainly love to spend time forest-bathing and spring may be your favourite season. When you’re out in the woods you’re tuned in to the various sounds and sights, and enjoy observing all the seasonal changes of the natural world. You’re ready to get out and spot the vital signs of spring and log them on the Woodland Trust website.

3. 8 and above.

   You’re a woodland wonder! You know a lot about the trees and wildlife around you and are able to spot a song thrush singing from the treetops – you can probably even tell an English bluebell from a Spanish one (and if you can’t, head to the Woodland Trust website to find out how)! You almost certainly love to spend time forest-bathing and spring may be your favourite season. When you’re out in the woods you’re tuned in to the various sounds and sights, and enjoy observing all the seasonal changes of the natural world. You’re ready to get out and spot the vital signs of spring and log them on the Woodland Trust website.

4. 7 and above.

   You’re a woodland wonder! You know a lot about the trees and wildlife around you and are able to spot a song thrush singing from the treetops – you can probably even tell an English bluebell from a Spanish one (and if you can’t, head to the Woodland Trust website to find out how)! You almost certainly love to spend time forest-bathing and spring may be your favourite season. When you’re out in the woods you’re tuned in to the various sounds and sights, and enjoy observing all the seasonal changes of the natural world. You’re ready to get out and spot the vital signs of spring and log them on the Woodland Trust website.

5. 6 and above.

   You’re keen to know more about nature, though you’re still learning. You have some knowledge about Britain’s birds, insects and mammals, and like to keep your eyes peeled for new discoveries when you’re walking in the woods. Keep snapping photos or taking notes about what you see – and look on the Woodland Trust’s website to learn more about the trees, plants and wildlife you find.

6. 5 and above.

   You’re keen to know more about nature, though you’re still learning. You have some knowledge about Britain’s birds, insects and mammals, and like to keep your eyes peeled for new discoveries when you’re walking in the woods. Keep snapping photos or taking notes about what you see – and look on the Woodland Trust’s website to learn more about the trees, plants and wildlife you find.

7. 4 and above.

   You’re keen to know more about nature, though you’re still learning. You have some knowledge about Britain’s birds, insects and mammals, and like to keep your eyes peeled for new discoveries when you’re walking in the woods. Keep snapping photos or taking notes about what you see – and look on the Woodland Trust’s website to learn more about the trees, plants and wildlife you find.

8. 3 and above.

   Your knowledge of springtime ecology is limited – but that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy a good walk in the woods. Next time, try looking up, peer into ponds and listen closely to the birds and the buzzing around you. Britain’s woodlands are full of life in springtime – and they’re also beneficial for our own health and wellbeing too, even if you don’t know all the names!

9. 2 and above.

   Your knowledge of springtime ecology is limited – but that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy a good walk in the woods. Next time, try looking up, peer into ponds and listen closely to the birds and the buzzing around you. Britain’s woodlands are full of life in springtime – and they’re also beneficial for our own health and wellbeing too, even if you don’t know all the names!

10. 0 and above.

    Your knowledge of springtime ecology is limited – but that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy a good walk in the woods. Next time, try looking up, peer into ponds and listen closely to the birds and the buzzing around you. Britain’s woodlands are full of life in springtime – and they’re also beneficial for our own health and wellbeing too, even if you don’t know all the names!

11. 1 and above.

    Your knowledge of springtime ecology is limited – but that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy a good walk in the woods. Next time, try looking up, peer into ponds and listen closely to the birds and the buzzing around you. Britain’s woodlands are full of life in springtime – and they’re also beneficial for our own health and wellbeing too, even if you don’t know all the names!

Discover more about spotting spring’s vital signs and help the Woodland trust check on the health of planet by logging your sightings at woodlandtrust.org.uk/vitalsigns