Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy

THE alder is one of the most interesting of our native trees.

No sooner have the leaves been stripped by autumn gales than next year's catkins begin to form. Next year's leaf buds also begin to swell.

Despite what is said far too often, there is no such thing as a winter sleep in autumn.

Alder trees are one of the few species which grow well close to and with their roots almost in water. The roots contain small bumps called nodules. Inside these nodules are millions of bacteria. These are able to make proteins directly from atmospheric nitrogen and therefore alder can grow in soil almost completely devoid of nutrients.

The fact that alder grows in such wet conditions means that the timber does not rot easily. The wood is therefore used for gateposts and other structures which are partly buried in damp soil.

Alder wood is also used to make the clog soles.

In King Cotton country, clog making was a major industry and I am glad that clog dancing is still part of our heritage.

October and November is the ideal time to study alder. The long thin male catkins can clearly be seen and the round green female catkins are present on the same tree. As the fruit ripens the female cones become dry, brown and full of seeds.

These are eaten by many birds, including siskin, reed bunting and long-tailed tits.

Few trees are more interesting to those interested in history and natural history than the alder.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.