Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter. These trees need weather patterns that are neither too hot nor too cold, and with seasons.


LAYER ON LAYER 

Deciduous forest have two or three layers: a canopy (treetops), sometimes a layer of shrubs, and then the low lying plant such as mosses ferns and spring flowers. 

SPRINGING TO LIFE

A forest appear to sleep in winter, but in spring it burst into life. Buds open and ferns spread out to soak up the light. 

 LAND OF PLENTY

 A forest floor is littered with dead and wood, and there are often plenty of nuts and berries - it's a perfect hunting ground for squirrels. 

 AUTUMN COLOURS

 In the growing seasons, deciduous leaves appear green because of a chemical called chlorophyll. In autumn the leaves turn yellow, brown, or red as the chlorophyll is destroyed. 
TREES AS HOMES 

 Woodpeckers use their beak to dig out grubs and to make nest holes. They have amazingly long tongues to probe and seek out insects. 

 Woodpeckers take two to three weeks to dig out a nest hole, into which the females lays several eggs. The hole is usually in a dead tree 
FACTS OF DECIDUOUS FOREST
  1. Some common trees found in these forests are maple, beech and oak.
  2. Temperate forests are those in regions that are neither too hot or too cold.
  3. The largest temperate deciduous forest is in the eastern part of North America, which was almost completely deforested by 1850 for agricultural purposes.
  4. Temperate deciduous forests are organized into 5 zones based on the height of the trees. From tallest to shortest they are the tree stratum zone, the small tree and sapling zone, the shrub zone, the herb zone and the ground zone.
  5. The coldest temperatures in temperate deciduous forests range from about 37°F to 64°F.
  6. Deciduous trees in these forests drop their leaves in fall and regrow them in spring.
  7. The trees in temperate deciduous forests are angiosperms, meaning they have flowers and produce seeds.