🌳 Explore Amazing Alder Trees! 🌳

Let's go on an adventure into the incredible world of Alder trees. 

Habitat

These water-loving trees are often found near rivers, streams, and wetlands, where they contribute to the beautiful natural landscapes.

Features

When you spot an Alder tree, you'll notice their unique features. Their leaves are smooth to touch, oval-shaped with serrated edges and a rounded end. They have a vibrant green colour and a leathery texture. Alder trees have tiny cones that hang from their branches, filled with seeds that birds and small critters love to snack on

Wildlife

Alder trees also provide cozy homes for many animals. Birds like the kingfisher and the long-tailed tit find shelter among their branches. The tree's catkins provide nectar and pollen for bees. Finches, love the tree's nourishing seeds. If you are lucky you may spot the black and yellow striped Alder Moth caterpillar enjoying an alder leaf feast.

But it’s not just the winged creatures who are drawn to the Alder tree. In the wet and lush conditions of the alder woodland, mosses, lichens, and fungi thrive. The roots of the Alder tree, strong and gnarled, create the perfect nesting sites for otters.

Did you know that Alder trees have a special talent? They help keep the environment healthy and balanced! How do they do it? Alder trees have a superpower called nitrogen fixation. They team up with special bacteria in their roots to turn nitrogen from the air into nutrients that plants need to grow strong and healthy. Isn't that magical?

Folklore

In folklore it is believed that Alder is the secret doorway used by the Fairy Folk to pass from one realm to another. Alder wood makes good wands for Fairies who work with woodland harvests like Fedelia. These sticks must only be gathered from ‘wind-blown’ branches, otherwise they will not retain their magic.

It has also been said that both Robin Hood and fairies used Alder leaves to die their clothes a vibrant green and help camouflage them in the forest.

Next time you're near a river or wetland, keep an eye out for Alder trees. Take a moment to admire their beauty and the important role they play in nature. You might even try drawing a picture of an Alder tree or collecting fallen leaves to create your own collage.