THE SHIVERING TREE

At last the familiar springtime green is returning as the trees unfurl their leaves. Wherever you are in Britain, look out for a native tree that is different to the rest. It’s slender and graceful, airy and light, with pale bark. Round, wavy-edged leaves move with the slightest breeze. It’s rare to be able to identify a tree by sound, rather than sight, but the distinctive, trembling, rustling leaves of the European aspen tree (Populus tremula) are a giveaway, lending the aspen one of its common names: the quaking tree.

While ancient oaks are celebrated and venerable yew trees grace many of our churchyards, the aspen is little