urban_greenwatch

All along the tow-path, alder trees grow. These are Black, or Common Alder, an old childhood friend of mine. They seed freely, grow in bogs, spread by sucker, and spring up to a decent size in just a few years. They were the trees we cut for the wood-burning stove, and I remember the carroty smell of the wood well, how easily the quickly-contructed branches would cut; and also how long the sodden wood took to dry. We never had to sow the trees; as this picture demonstrates very clearly, it has a long breeding season and produces plenty of seeds.

Along with Willow, Alder is the tree which reclaims soggy, boggy ground, springing up to form a a quick-growing screen and windbreak, shelter and insects for small birds (I often see Coal Tits and the like firtling and fussocking around among them), sucking up the water and enriching the soil, and generally getting it ready to for everything else to move in; a friendly native that makes quick windbreaks and shade.

A word of caution, though; it's thirsty. Don't plant it unless you're sure of your water.