The British nature is amazing. It changes greatly from the south to the north and from the east to the west. So, you can enjoy its variety during a two-day bus trip. Two texts about the British nature give you a general idea of it and encourage to visit Britain. They also help you to know more about vegetation and wildlife. The photos are mine.
British Nature (texts for intermediate)
The Contents (содержание):
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1. The British Vegetation
Try to name the flowers in the picture:
Check the names of the flowers
- poppy — мак
- thistle — чертополох
- daffodil — нарцисс
- leek — лук-порей
- shamrock — трилистник
- clover — клевер
- heather — вереск (вечнозеленый кустарник с напоминающими колокольчик цветами, распространен в Шотландии)
- oak — дуб
- beech — бук
- elm — вяз
- ash — ясень
Text One. The British Vegetation
Words to learn:
- humid — влажный
- mild — мягкий
- extensive — обладающий протяженностью, громадный, большой
- vast — обширный, громадный, безбрежный
- common — распространенный
- cut down — вырубать
- put under civilization — освоены людьми
- remain — остаться
- moor — вересковая пустошь, заросли вереска
- marshland — болотистая местность
The humid and mild climate of Great Britain is good for plants and flowers. Some of them have become symbols in the UK. Probably you know that the poppy is the symbol of peace, the red rose is the national emblem of England, the thistle is the national emblem of Scotland, the daffodil and the leek are the emblems of Wales, the shamrock (a kind of clover) is the emblem of Ireland.
The UK was originally a land of vast forests, mainly oak and beech in the Lowlands (лоулендс – низменная часть Великобритании) and pine and birch in the Highlands (хайлендс – холмистая часть Великобритании). Also it consists of great areas of marshlands and smaller areas of moors. In the course of time, vast forests were cut down and almost all the Lowlands were put under civilization.
Extensive forests remain in the east and the north of Scotland and in the south, the east and the west part of England. Oak, elm, ash, and beech are the most common trees in England, while Scotland has much pine and birch.The Highlands are largely moorlands with heather and grasses.(Read more about Scotland SOON)
The English oak is the best known and loved of British native trees. It is the most common tree in the UK, especially in southern and central British woods.
How to Tell the Oak from the Ash (video in English)
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2. The British Wildlife
Try to name the birds in the picture:
- Robin redbreast — красногрудая малиновка (национальная птица Британии)
- blackbird — черный дрозд
- starling — скворец
- sparrow – воробей
- reindeer – северный олень
- seal – тюлень
- squirrel – белка
- reptile – пресмыкающееся
- insect – насекомое
- salmon – лосось
Повторить английские слова по теме «Животные»
Text Two. The British Wildlife
Words to learn:
- wildlife – животный мир
- be like – быть похожим
- used to be – когда-то были
- extinction – вымирание
- dustbin – свалка
- manage – удаваться
- survive – выжить
- numerous – многочисленный
- are absolutely covered with – полностью покрыты
- local – местный
- distance – расстояние
The wildlife of the UK is much like that of northwestern Europe, as the British Isles used to be part of it. In the old times, the common animals in the forests were bears, wolves, foxes and reindeer. On the coast there were a lot of seals. Now many animals are protected by law as some of them as bears and wolves have been hunted to extinction. The seals are in danger now as the sea and the coast is used as a dustbin. Reindeer is common mainly in Scotland.
Among larger animals only foxes have managed to survive and many of them are still seen in different parts of the UK. There are also smaller animals such as rats, squirrels, hares, etc.
Among the birds the most numerous are the blackbird, the sparrow, the starling, the robin.
The Robin Redbreast is the national bird of the UK. There are about 430 kinds of birds, many of them are songbirds.
In spring and just before the winter colds begin, millions of birds flying from the north to the warmer lands stop for a rest on a little rocky island off the west coast of Britain. The rocks are absolutely covered with birds. And the local people bring food and water for them while the long-distance travelers are there.
As for reptiles, they are few. There are three types of snakes and only one of them is dangerous. There are no snakes in Ireland and there is a legend that Saint Patrick got rid Ireland of snakes.
This is most essential information about the British Nature. The texts give you some general facts but if you want to get some details, read on.