National Tree Week 2024
For National Tree Week 2024 I have been celebrating different trees and their contribution to our world. Here are the stories I have collected. Celebrating the Hazel Tree The Hazel tree has contributed to human existence through providing coppiced wood (for bean poles. fences etc) for thousands of year. It regenerates quickly and is known to ‘spring back’ hence many coppiced woodlands are often called Spring Wood. Their yellow leaves have been adorning the roadsides in autumn and have now fallen. This is an old Hazel that shows signs of having been coppiced in the past and is now growing and maturing with a wider trunk and a wonderful crown creating a broad canopy shading out bracken but allowing other plants to grow. It pushes out its catkins in autumn ready for spring. Hazel is in the top 10 trees to plant for birds and wildlife and is associated with dormice which are now extremely rare. Hazel nuts provide excellent food which can be stored over winter. Autumn Colour ...
