A tree can be told from a shrub by the height at which its lower branches grow out from the stem or trunk. They may be about two metres or more from the ground and below them the trunk is bare and difficult to climb!

The conifers are trees with waxy leaves. Many conifers have needle shaped leaves and most conifers are evergreen. A large number of plants such as the oak, ash and beech are trees. These trees have broad leaves and most of the trees are deciduous.