Fruit trees are heavy with blossom now, all pumping out tempting aromas to seduce passing pollinators. A smaller, less blousy cousin of the wild cherry, the bird cherry releases an almond scent into the wind, I follow my nose to find it whilst out walking in Gallows Hill. After being pollinated by insects, the flowers develop into reddish-black, astringent, bitter cherries, good for wildlife but not for us. It is a useful tree for a variety of wildlife: the flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects, and the fruit are eaten by birds, badgers and small mammals.
You can find the bird cherry popping up in hedgerows and in damp wooded areas, it can tolerate greater exposure and elevation than wild cherry, so often grows in upland woodlands, although I haven’t spotted it yet on the Chevin I wouldn’t be surprised to find it.
By River Six Photo by Pixabay
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