Jackdaws & Sycamores - The importance of being a tree

Kate Thornton and autumn tree

AREN’T TREES BRILLIANT?

Trees perform a myriad of amazing tasks every day and we would be utterly screwed without them. Much like if we lose our pollinators! As I was washing up the other evening gazing out at the large sycamore in my neighbour’s garden, I was struck by the most visible of these important tasks, the tree’s vital role as a physical home, larder and refuge for wildlife. 

The day this rainbow appeared over the Sycamores at the bottom of the garden

JACKDAWS AND SYCAMORES

I watched the jackdaws paired up facing their feathers away from the strong westerly wind, monochrome silhouettes against the greying sky. I do love a Jackdaw! 

Throughout the year, these two trees host a cycle of activity, in winter it’s corvid season, in Spring the deafening call of a Wren comes from the lower branches and the Blackbirds squabble whilst the Robin patiently waits for me to dig over the earth.

They are bringing so much life - supporting, housing and feeding so many species. It really hit home how important they are. That’s aside from all the other amazing things trees do…

This rainbow took us by surprise one evening, well more so the colour of the sky, eery and beautiful at the same time.

NATIVE HEDGE

We have a few trees in our garden but the best thing we’ve planted is a native Alder hedge. The combination of the hedge and a variety of bird food means there are many more birds visiting our garden than when we moved in. I counted seven species at one time the other day. Which maybe doesn’t sound a lot but I was quietly smug about it.

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, pick a tree and plant it. You won’t regret it! Got trees already? plant some more, haha!

FAVOURITE TREE?

This is tough, but lately I’ve been leaning toward Cedar, though I do love a mighty Beech or a White Beam. What’s yours?