How about a flowering cherry of some sort? Its got that shiney bark look.

I wondered about a flowering Cherry too,Karen..but I don't know what a Goat Willow looks like..

i would go cherry as well as it looks just like the bird cherry in my neighbours garden.

The more I look at the bark, the more I think Cherry, but it's habit is very upright unlike the cherries that I am familiar with, and it's buds are larger and further apart. I shall put on a pic of the buds later...but hey, we will soon find out won't we! I thought it would be fun to see if anyone would get it spot on, as I don't have a clue what it is!

Why would you let a goat willow get that large in a border anyway? Makes sense to be an ornamental tree of some sort.

I've just googled Goat Willow,and didn't realise it was what I know as Pussy Willow.!.I couldn't find a photo of the bark,but it was interesting to read..:o)

I'd go for Sorbus - Ash/Rowan tree...

Kasy, that's what I thought in the autumn too.

...but no berries, so probably not a Rowan.

I was looking at they grey spots on the trunk - typical for Sorbus. Not long and we will find out, lol

maybe birds got the berries before you moved in?

Well, we have a lot of voracious birds for sure! :))

My dad had a fruiting cherry in the garden that grew upright no matter what he tried, sorry I don't remember the actual name but it was always loaded with fruit Karen, he used to have to net it as the birds loved them.......

How lovely Lincslass...here's hoping!

Wish I could remember the name as the cherries were delicious......

Stella?

Laburnum.

Hi Karen, the upright habit could mean that you have a common almond, Prunus dulcis, if so you could get fruit from this, { nuts}, Derek.

I am enjoying reading all the different suggestions,Karen..lots to ponder over :o)

Oooh...I hope BA is right! :)) almonds don't grow this far north do they? They wouldn't ripen would they? Lovely trees though!

It does look like Laburnum bark!

Just coming in to see what the answer is!

Hi Karen, they are fully hardy, but whether the fruits would ripen would probably depend on what kind of summer we got, Derek.

Thanks Derek. :)