Nothing epitomises our ancient hedgerows more than the Hawthorn tree. These native trees provide sanctuary and homes for many small birds and animals and their berries are a Winter larder for many, especially thrushes and Blackbirds. The name hawthorn is from the Anglo-Saxon term hagathorn or haegthorn which translates to the Old English haga which means a hedge.
Mid to late May is when the trees are at their best, as the blossom is a truly spectacular sight and is often a sign that Spring is turning into Summer. The tree is known as the May tree due to the blossoms being at their finest this time of year. As stunning as the blossom is, the smell to us Humans is nothing spectacular and can be more described as a strench, however it drives insects crazy. One of the reasons for this is that the blossom contains the chemical trimethylamine which is the same chemical produced when animal tissue decays, this will explain that in days gone by, the blossom was associated with death as people likened the smell to the plague. You would think, being a member of the rose family that the blossom would be a delight to our senses, sadly not.
Despite the not so appealing smell, there are more pleasant associations with the Hawthorn especially with Paganism as the trees have ancient connections to May Day, the blossoms and leaves often being used for garlands and before Maypoles, folk used a Hawthorn tree. The tree is also a symbol of Pagan fertility.
When you are out and about, take a moment to admire these wonderful trees and their blossom, you don't have to travel far, they can be found growing almost anywhere from gardens, canal and river sides and even on mountain slopes. I was out earlier today and there is a good patch of trees along the canal between Shipley and Buck Wood, where currently the Gorse and Broom are also in full bloom. A selection of photos from today's walk are below where you can see the variation in colours of the blossom.
Catch these wonderful trees and their blossoms now (don't forget your nose peg)
as the spectacle won't last too much longer, as once the flowers are pollinated by insects, they will develop into vibrant red berries known as haws. Now that's a blog for another time!
Lovely read 😊