Suggestions please...

[Parsley65]

Please can you suggest a small tree to plug a gap in our garden?
Ideally something native to the UK and bird/insect friendly.

How small?

It's not it's native but I have a gorgeous Californian lilac.

*its not native.
Bees love it though

A dwarf cherry perhaps or a fragrant lilac
We have a small gap in a north-facing corner and want an Acer but have heavy clay so don't think it will thrive

Crab apple?

Guelder rose (viburnum opulus), spindle tree (euonymus europaea) and dogwood are all native to the uk and are large shrubs/small trees. You could also look at a rowan or mountain ash or a silver birch although these are a bit bigger. All of these trees like different conditions (eg spindle likes alkali soils) so have a think about what will best suit your site. Is it dry? Acid? Shaded/open? Exposed?

Thank you for your replies.
It's going to be in a sunny spot and the soil is heavy, rich in clay.
Planning to do some research on your suggestions and hit the garden centres at the weekend

My California lilac is in fairly heavy heavy clay soil, partial shade though.
I'm not sure if it's meant to be full sun or partial but it likes where it is anyway.

Not my tree!
But this is what they look like in Spring 😍

Californian lilac = Ceonothus.

They're not the most long-lived of bushes.

Guelder rose or Wayfaring Tree both will produce flowers followed by berries. Ditto crab apples and rowan - all of these berries are appreciated by birds, the guelder rose is liked by waxwings. Rowan and Guelder rose are good for autumn leaf colour.

You may be better buying on line for native trees.

I love s mountain ash. Birds love it, great in autumn and spring ...

I have similar soil to you, although my spot is sunny/shady rather than full sun. I planted an Amelanchier Robin Hill earlier this year. It looks lovely and I'm really pleased with it. I picked it because it has interest all year round and available info said specifically that it could cope with heavy clay. RHS says ' 'Robin Hill' forms a dense, upright small tree, spreading with age. The pale pink flowers open from pink buds then fade to white, and are followed by dark purple berries. The foliage opens bronzy, turns green in summer and produces orange and red shades in autumn'

Ooh, forgot about hawthorn! Lovely flowers, berries for the birds and happy in clay.

Do your research on Barcham Trees website. It is like a tree encyclopaedia. They sell very mature expensive trees but it is a good guide for when you go to the nursery for a smaller specimen.

Amelanchier isn't native, but blackbirds enjoy the fruit. In spring the new growth is a lovely pinky colour, then it gets smothered by white flowers, then by berries and blackbirds, and finally a good autumn display of red.

Thank you everyone.
Some lovely suggestions here. I'm going to enjoy choosing...