Identify these trees

sleepyholland

Short version:
Can anyone tell me what these 2 trees are?

Long version:
I need to plant some screening trees at the back of my garden.
I am planning on planting bamboo in one area and would like to put a couple of fast growing trees in another area. I have just tore down 6 Leylandii that I inherited from the previous owner and would like to replace them with something 'nicer'. Not too fussy with regards to evergreen, native etc.
I have seen these 2 trees in the neighbourhood and they seem to have done well in the conditions.

Thanks!

magicbastarder

first i think is a willow. second is a birch.

sleepyholland

Thanks!

You're definitely right about the birch. I'm not sure about the Willow.
I have only ever seen weeping ones before and the leaf seems different?

looksee

I doubt they are willow unless they are a very unusual one. The flowers are very distinctive but I have not seen them before.

Rancid

Some type of Alder or Hazel that I have never seen before... ?

magicbastarder

the leaves don't look anything like alder or hazel leaves though.

magicbastarder

the catkins are not massively dissimilar from the ones pictured here: http://blog.artandscienceofsurvival.com/2012/04/wild-food-natural-resources-course.html

recedite

It might be some form of pussy willow, the male plant has catkins but the female plant looks something similar after the flowers and hairs fall off.
Google "hairless pussy", on second thoughts, maybe better not.

recedite

magicbastarder wrote: »

the catkins are not massively dissimilar from the ones pictured here: http://blog.artandscienceofsurvival.com/2012/04/wild-food-natural-resources-course.html

Beat me to it, and with a safe link too!

sleepyholland

Thanks all.
That's a great help and keeps my internet search history off the NSA's radar.

looksee

Sorry magicbastarder, you are right, it is a willow, a Goat Willow http://www.brickfieldspark.org/data/willowgoat.htm

Trying to figure it out has been nagging at me till I had to go searching for it!

sleepyholland

A goat willow it is. Matches the shape of the tree is question.
Must decide if I have the space for it and then look into sourcing one.
Lovely full tree with nice shimmering foliage.

Thanks again!

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/2-35353-61294/Image+5.JPG