Let's learn some Winter Tree ID 🌳🌲

Check out Joes brilliant video today!

(Note - the closed captions are autogenerated)

Let's get to winter tree ID'ing... starting with a personal favourite of mine the beautiful purple buds of the Alder tree.

Alder loves wet ground, wet woodland along river sides you name it alder loves her water. So much so their seeds, which can be found in the cones, give them a little tap once opened and they fall out have airbags allowing them to float along the water. These seeds can float along for as long as a year, even germinating a root on the surface of the water until they are washed up on land.

Alder is known as the nurse tree as she transforms soils and environments for other trees and plants. Moving into grounds that are too wet for most and improve the nitrogen content in the soil. Why if you ever going to undertake a reclamation scheme of turning old duping grounds back to nature alder should be your first port of call.

Alder transforms environments through a symbiotic relationship with a bacteria (Frankia alni) which grows on her roots nitrogen-fixing bacterium absorbs nitrogen from the air and makes it available for her but also all of her neighbours.

The alder nurturing nature extends to us - freshly picked leaves can be rubbed on the skin as a natural insect repellent and be made into a paste to reduce swellings and inflammations.

The alder is part of the sacred trees of the Ogham an ancient druidic alphabet - offering support during challenging times and encourages us to face our fears with bravery.