Hazel – Corylus avellana
Think that there is nothing to see in winter out in nature? Think again! The trees around you might appear to be taking a long nap (or even looking a bit dead), but they are just taking a breather, preparing for new life in the Spring.
Hazel is a great species to be looking out for at this time of the year, with its yellow-green catkins hanging, waiting to emerge. In fact, last year I saw the first open Hazel catkins on Christmas Day! This is quite early (due to the mild conditions) as the normal flowering time is from late January, so this is evidence of our changing climate. The female flowers are much smaller, a crown of red hair-like structures (the styles or pollen tubes). See the image below so you know what to look for.
Each tree has separate male and female flowers (known as monoecious) but cannot self-pollinate. The hazelnuts are a great favourite of many animals, including dormice, and the nuts were also prized by people (and continue to be so), with trees being managed specifically – there are varieties known as ‘cobnuts’ grown specially on the green sand ridge in Kent, which typically have longer nuts.
Hazel has a long association with us humans, being coppiced and used for all sorts of purposes including furniture. The long poles it produces are great for pea sticks in the garden! Typically a hazel tree has a relatively short life (about 80 years), but when coppiced can lives for hundreds of years. Coppiced woodland is wonderful for nature (if managed well), creating a mosaic of different habitats for wild flowers, insects and other animals.
So, next time you are out on a winter walk, have a look for some coppiced hazel and see if you can spot the male and female flowers. Happy winter walking!