Week 6
At last the year has truly begun as there are snowdrops[i] everywhere. The wild snowdrop is something of a rarity these days, whereas the cultivated form, such as I have on my land, can be seen easily. Right now, and certainly for the next few weeks, the snowdrop will reign supreme. My renatured land is not as green as a fully manicured stripy lawn, so my snowdrops are not as obvious as many, as they hide partially behind longer grass. Yet they are there, are wonderful, and hang silently after popping though the soil’s surface without any fanfare.
The snowdrop is native to Europe and the Middle East and was introduced into the UK in the late 1500s, although its northern limit is uncertain. Its commonest form is Galanthus nivalis, which is now classed as critically endangered in several European countries, thanks to habitat destruction caused by land-use changes, over-collecting by the horticultural trade, and ongoing climate change[ii]. Some enthusiasts will pay up to £350 for a single bulb[iii] of the rarer varieties of snowdrop, so I am holding on to my own plants tightly, as I have no wish to see them stolen. Snowdrop seeds are spread by ants, the flower being synonymous with hope[iv], as it blooms so early in the year. In Yorkshire, it was customary for village maidens to gather bunches of snowdrops and wear them as a symbol of their purity on 2 February, which is Candlemas, the feast of the Virgin Mary[v].
I have put so much compost on my Portuguese laurels that I now have barely any compost left. There was a time when that would not have troubled me, as I had no clue what compost was. It was almost a dirty word. Yet now I realise its importance and am glad I have my own compost area. Most things that rot can end up in a compost heap, even egg boxes from the
supermarket. Left to its own devices, compost will slowly decompose, and become a mixture rich in plant nutrients and organisms. Compost truly improves the fertility of soil and reduces any dependency on chemical fertilisers. Composting is an aerobic process, and four essential ingredients are needed for it to take place - carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water[vi]. Add to these some so-called physical decomposers, such as ants, beetles, earthworms, flies, millipedes, snails and slugs, and a compost heap is forever content. Composting is not a speedy process as it can take anything from three months to two years to make compost in an outdoor pile like mine[vii]. If compost is made in a bin, so the process is quicker, as the bin holds heat for faster results.
There are three phases of composting - mesophilic, thermophilic, and maturation. Finished compost looks dark brown, feels fine and crumbly, and smells like fresh earth after a thunderstorm. Anything else and the compost is not ready. Composting is almost as old as time[viii]. The ancient Scots, about 5000BCE, were said to have planted crops in heaps of rotting manure. The Christian Bible, Jewish Talmud, and Muslim Qu’ran[ix] speak of using dung in fields while a retired Roman general, Cato the Elder, wrote a book called “De Agri Cultura” (“Concerning the Culture of the Fields”) in about 160BCE[x] in which he described the creation of compost[xi]. Compost truly has been an established concept for a very long time.
The trees on my land are slowly coming to life as well and I can see buds on them all. There is a silver birch[xii] at the top of a small hillock, and the birds love it. They think it was planted for them. The silver birch is as it says - it looks almost silver and is one of the first trees to sprout on bare land or after a forest fire. It is a hardy tree, and the insects love it. This is largely because its canopy is quite open, so plenty of light reaches the ground. It is why so many things thrive and grow under a silver birch. The Germans found nearly 500 species of insect on a silver birch, which is remarkable. It has been classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)[xiii] as being on its so-called Red List but still being of least concern. This means the IUCN considers the silver birch unlikely to become endangered or imminently extinct. The tree is also quite shallow-rooted, which is ideal for Lakeland, as the topsoil is very thin.
A few steps away from the silver birch is a tall, grand conifer, a Noble Fir[xiv]. This is normally a high-altitude tree, so I am surprised my land has one at all as it is barely 65 metres above sea level. Although the Noble Fir is native to Western North America, it was introduced into the UK in 1830 and is normally regarded as a decorative species. It makes an excellent Christmas tree. The biggest one in the country is in Diana’s Grove at Scotland’s Blair Castle. It is named after the Goddess of Hunting[xv] and is 50 metres tall[xvi].
Meanwhile I also have a young sycamore[xvii] that is trying to make its presence felt and is growing speedily. It is what sycamores do. However, the tree has ended up in precisely the wrong position on my land, and as it grows is bound to block the sunlight that might otherwise reach my house. I cannot, indeed will not fell it, but at some stage it must be moved. Sycamores can grow to 35 metres and live for 400 years, the tree being native to
central, eastern, and southern Europe. It is thought to have been introduced to the UK by the Romans[xviii]. These days, many seem to hate sycamores, perhaps because they spread rapidly, drop plenty of twigs and leaves, and are susceptible to pests and diseases[xix]. Meanwhile I think sycamores are wonderful and of real value when addressing climate change. A single, fully grown sycamore tree can transform 26 pounds of carbon dioxide into life-giving oxygen every year. Large trees remove 60 to 70 times more pollution than small trees[xx]. Whatever my views of sycamores, I will one day have to move the young one that has appeared on my land, either this year or next.
The best time to shift a tree is when it is dormant. Deciduous trees are best moved in early spring, before the leaves emerge, or in autumn after the leaves have fallen. Evergreens are most successfully moved in early spring, or late summer, that is August to mid-September[xxi]. Moving a tree is incredibly stressful for it, so for a year afterwards it must be mollycoddled. It is also good to prepare the recipient spot before extracting the tree, so the plant spends as little time as possible out of the ground[xxii].
Trees may be silent and static, but it is clear they do have feelings.
***
Acknowledgement
Take it from me - none of this would be possible without the help of RSG Horticulture. Rufus, who runs it, has far more energy than me and is full of ideas and skills.
References
[i] Galanthus nivalis with approximately 20 other species. Native to Europe and the Middle East and normally flower before the vernal equinox (20/21 March in northern hemisphere). There are some snowdrop gardens in the UK. Said to contain a mysterious and magical herb called “moly” that features in Homer’s Odyssey. Moly is likely galantamine, which could have acted as an antidote to Circe’s poisons. It may also be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The snowdrop also contains lectin, which is being studied for possible use in the management of HIV. See 22 January 2023 entry.
[ii] https://observation.org/species/6806/. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[iii] Galanthus plicatus EA Bowles snowdrop sold on Ebay for £350. https://www.landscapejuice.com/2011/02/galanthus-plicatus-ea-bowles-snowdrop-sol-on-ebay-for-350.html. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[iv] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[v] https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/snowdrop. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[vi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compost. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[vii] https://helpmecompost.com/composting-for-beginners/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-compost/. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[viii] https://www.compostfoundation.org/Portals/2/Documents/Another%20Short%20History%20of%20Composting-1.pdf. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[ix] Compost, Recycling of Life. https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/science-muslim-issues/compost-recycling-life/. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[x] De agri cultura. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_agri_cultura. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[xi] Marcus Cato on Agriculture. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cato/De_Agricultura/A*.html. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[xii] Betula pendula. Sometimes known as warty birch. Flowers are catkins. Easily confused with the similar downy birch (Betula pubescens). Mainly found in mountainous regions. One of the first trees to sprout on bare land or after a forest fire. Needs plenty of light. Often grows with the fungus Amanita muscaria. Nearly 500 different species of insect feed off the silver birch. Can develop birch dieback, where the branches of the crown can die. Finland’s national tree. Has been used for the treatment of allergy to tree pollen, and also epidermolysis bullosa. Can also treat arthritis, high cholesterol, and cystitis. Good for strengthening bones and boosting overall immunity. Also aids better digestion.
[xiii] https://www.iucn.org. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[xiv] Abies procera ‘Glauca’. Known for its blue foliage. Susceptible to adelgids and aphids. May be affected by honey fungus. Also called red fir and Christmas tree. Can grow for 200 years. Discovered by David Douglas in the early 19th century in the Cascades of western North America. Foliage has been used to treat coughs and colds, headaches, neuralgia, and to soothe muscle and joint aches. Good expectorant. Wood can be used for ladders and paper manufacture. Also used for the frames of the RAF’s Mosquito bombers in World War II. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[xv] https://www.pkct.org/blair-atholl. Accessed 3 February 2023
[xvi] https://forestryandland.gov.scot/learn/trees/noble-fir. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[xvii] Acer pseudoplatanus. Introduced to British Isles by 1500. Produces lots of pollen and nectar and this attractive to insects. Some moths eat the leaves. Has winged, helicopter seeds. Wood is good for musical instruments, furniture, flooring and kitchen utensils. Can develop tar spot (Rhytisma acerinum) by late summer/autumn. Should horses eat the seeds it can be fatal. Burns well. Tolpuddle Martyrs’ tree in Dorset is a sycamore. Has been used as a cold and cough remedy, and as a dermatological, gynaecological, respiratory, and gastrointestinal aid. Tea from the inner bark has been used to treat dysentery and measles. Bark is emetic and laxative.
[xviii] https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/sycamore/. Accessed 3 February 2023.
[xix] Sanders A. Pros and Cons of the Sycamore Tree. Garden Guides. https://www.gardenguides.com/91220-pros-cons-sycamore-tree.html. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[xx] Benefits of Trees. https://www.sandiego.gov/trees/benefits-of-trees. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[xxi] https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/i-would-move-small-tree-yard-how-should-i-proceed. Accessed 18 April 2023.
[xxii] Tree and shrubs: moving plants. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/moving-trees-shrubs. Accessed 18 April 2023.
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