Fast growing trees

Two native trees that the RSPB recommend because they are good at supporting wildlife are birch and alder. There are many others too of course but most grow too big for the majority of gardens.

Okay how large is this 'patch' you want to make into a little forest - remember that once grown each tree is going to take up several metres of space. Betulas (Birches) are generally fast growing as is Sorbus aucuparia ( Europena Mountain Ash or to us Scots Rowan), most of the conifer species, Salix (Willow), Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple), Populus temuloides (Quaking Aspen), Acer reubrum (a red Canadian Maple), Acer platanoides (Norwegian Maple), Coruns florida (Pink Dogwood)... I could keep on writing tree names for a while yet :-) Most of the ones I've listed will put on between 2 & 3 foot of growth a year and end up between 40 & 70 foot in height with a spread of 10 - 15 foot.

Living in west wales you could also grow some of the rarer trees such as Arbutus unedo (Strawberrry Tree) and the Southern Beeches (Nothofagus). Of native trees don't forget Frangula alnus (Berry bearing Alder) which is the food plant of the lovely Brimstone Butterfly. Sorry I forgot you want fast growing, Nothofagus obliqua and dombeyi are both fast but give interest.

So Twm... what trees are you going to plant???

You all have wonderful ideas - I will take the list - thank you all. Does anyone know where is the best place to get the trees you've listed? Once I've decided, I'll let you know - I'll take plenty of pics!
I love the idea of mixing ordinary trees like MOON GROWER & INVERGLAN have listed with the not so common trees that POAANNUA suggested. Everyone likes walks through the forest yet we don't admire the beauty of the common Oak, Mountain Ash or Acers but you think the last time you did walk there and you admired a tree that you hadn't seen before or a tree that shouldn't really be in the middle of a forest but is!

God help my partner! The only thing I'll be talking about for the next 2 weeks is trees!

Twm you be bet is to find a local tree nursery that grows a lot of their own stock... that way the trees will be happily suited to your conditions.