Friday 27 November 2015

Winter Tree Identification - Rural skills workshop

Last weekend, when the sky was blue and the ground crunchy, we headed up into the young native woodland at Corehead to learn how to identify the different trees.

Emilie Wadsworth was our guide, pointing out the different features to look for. When the trees are as young as ours, knowing different tree buds is key. Like with so many things, when you stop to look at the detail, you realise the beauty in what once you just walked past. Tree buds are no exception.

A favourite of mine are the purple buds of Alder. This tree also has other good clues, being the only broadleaved tree in the UK to have cones.

Photo not doing it justice here!!


Ash is an easy one with its distinctive large black buds which are arranged opposite each other. Ash branches curve upwards, a shape easy to spot even from a distance. It has very smooth grey bark (when young).




Hazel has a zig zag appearance to its twigs and its buds have green/red scales.




Rowan has grey/purplish buds which are distinctively downy.



It was hungry work and we settled down on bags of tree tubes, (removed previously by Junior Rangers and Corehead Volunteers!) for a snack.



... then the obligatory adventure to see the old wizened Ash in the gully.



and finally home, pausing to admire a defiant buttercup in the snow



That's our last workshop of the year (Volunteering will still continue as normal!) , look out for more events and activities in the New Year/Spring

Ali Murfitt

Community and Education Officer.










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