Hazel catkins

This tenacious little tree puts forth it's flowering bodies at this cold, dark time of year.  being pollinated by the wind, I guess itis better to send pollen out when there is little else around, and not needing insects means it is not tied to certain, warmer times.

A fine day opens their bracts like in this sketch, but usually at this time of year, they hold tight, their scales pressed flat to the body.

We have a few hazel copses in the wood, one of which supports a beautiful sea of bluebells in May and the first part of June.  I understand hazels acheive their maximum worth when they are 16 years old.  Needing constant pruning to maintain a thick multi-stemmed habit, these trees are labour intensive if they are not harvested.  We have Claire, a local spar-maker come into the wood.  Spars are hazel sticks used to push in to secure the thatching in straw roofs.  The best way to harvest Hazel is to cut at an angle, low to the base, and then lay any discarded wood into the crown.  This way, the new soft green growth is protected a little from browsers such as deer.