Greening Wymondham

Though this Alder on Chandlers Hill is small and young, it may live for 60 years, reaching a height of around 28m, and acquiring an elegant conical shape.
Alder’s dark and fissured bark is often covered in lichen. Its twigs are light brown with orange spots, and young twigs are sticky, the meaning of the Latin name ‘glutinosa’.

Alders are easy to identify in winter. The female catkins remain as small woody cones on the tree, containing their seeds, which are loved by siskin, redpoll and goldfinch.

The dark green leaves are racquet-shaped and leathery, with serrated edges. They are eaten by caterpillars of several moths. Green dye from the catkins was used to colour and camouflage the clothes of outlaws like Robin Hood.

Alder is a resilient UK native tree, damp loving, living along the river banks in groups called Carrs, and is often the first to colonise wet ground.  The roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules, conditioning the soil and improving soil fertility. Their water resistant wood is used in the underwater foundations of Venice & Lisbon, as it becomes stronger and harder when immersed.

Both female conical and long male catkins are on the same branches, and the wood of this water loving tree turns red when cut, symbolising fire. Ancient Celts thought these opposites on the tree represented spiritual balance alongside strength, and the wood was used for warrior’s shields for courage and protection.