Top tree and shrub species in the UK to use for greenwood carving

Greenwood carving, especially for kitchen or food utensils (known as treen), tends to use hardwood rather than softwoods. With their high resin content softwoods may taint food. For similar reasons oak is not generally used for treen, because of the high tannic acid content. This high acid content is the reason why metal in contact with oak tends to rust quickly and the oak wood stains very easily. The species in the side bar are ones I’ve worked with, rather than a comprehensive review of wood types.