Native Black Poplar Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia

Suffolk Priority Species

The Native Black Poplar (Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia) is Britain’s rarest native timber tree, having declined dramatically through the loss of traditional wet pastoral landscapes and its failure to regenerate naturally in most areas. Suffolk holds a significant number of recorded trees – one of the highest county totals in England – with individuals scattered across the river valleys of the Waveney, Gipping, Brett, and Stour. Most surviving trees are male. The Suffolk Tree Warden Network is playing an important role in locating and recording trees across the county, and propagation and planting programmes are helping to secure the species’ future in Suffolk. Image: © Stuart Read, Flickr.

Find out more: iNaturalist, Woodland Trust, Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora