Tree i.d. with pix

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

Any idea what this is? Measurements included as I got told off for not doing this last time. In the first pic there's a leycestria & a cotoneaster with berries -- not talking about those.

Is it an alder? If so, what's the best use for it in a medium-sized garden? It was in a pot after being found & dug up as a baby (no idea where it came from); but now it's grown through the pot & got huge. Can it be moved?

It's a willow. Not exactly sure which one.

But I wouldn't bother planting in your garden.

Thanks. That makes more sense, as there are willows just beyond two of our fences.

I have to disagree. I thought willows were more narrow and elongated? It looks more like a Wych elm to me.

There are many species of willow, some with long narrow leaves, others with oval leaf. Both leaf and bark are OK for willow, eg goat willow (the male of which is a pussy willow). I’ve cut back dozens of these, keeping paths clear in local nature reserve.

Alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves are broader towards the end, and have a blunt not pointed end. And a simpler, more regular vein pattern, not that network of veins. Wych elm again are broader towards the tip, and have asymmetrical leaf bases. And the bark is a warmer browner tone.

Then I bow down to your experience. I did check with Google images for various willow leaves and none came up broad like that. It did look familiar and seemed very similar to elm, on checking the leaf looked like Wych. However I didn't check about the bark (it was 2.30am). I will go and look up goat willow (tyvm).

Look very carefully at the base of wych elm. This link has a good pic. The asymmetry at the base is a clear character for Ulmus species, and easy to see once you know what you’re looking for.

Salix capra, S cinerea, S aurita are three willows with broad leaves, all native I think but don’t quote me on that, also dwarf willow and creeping willow.

Thank you, I have bookmarked that link for future reading of other species too!