Common Lime, Large Leaved Lime, and Small Leaved Lime Tilia x vulgaris, Tilia platyphyllos and Tilia cordata

It is an order made by a local planning authority (in Norfolk this is done by the District Councils) which makes it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy any tree protected without obtaining permission from the local authority. Its purpose is to protect trees which make a significant impact on their local surroundings. The order can cover anything from a single tree to woodlands, including hedgerow trees, but not hedges, bushes or shrubs. Further information is available from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas  


 Picture by Cornel Howells

 

Mistletoe can be successfully grown from berries but this is by no means easy and it may take many attempts before you succeed.

To increase your chances of success it is best to collect the mistletoe berries in February or early March not at Christmas! You may need to cover a few berries on an existing plant with a net or you run the risk that birds will have eaten them leaving none for you to collect! The seeds will stick to the bark of the trees when the berry is smeared onto a branch. In the wild this is done by mistle thrushes and other birds which are fond of eating the white mistletoe berries but discard the sticky seed by wiping their bills on a convenient branch in the process spreading mistletoe from tree to tree. Mistletoe will only grow on certain tree species and apple trees seem especially receptive. Hawthorn, lime, poplar, whitebeam, pear, field maple and ash are also suitable trees to try.

Chose a young branch with thin, smooth bark and wipe the seed in a shady position such as the north facing side or underside of your chosen branch. There is no need to cut the bark with a knife. You will need patience. It can often take a couple of years before the first pair of mistletoe leaves appear. Prior to that you may if you look carefully spot the fragile green root which is the first sign that your berry has germinated successfully. Remember while mistletoe does not kill trees it is partially parasitic so you may not want to plant it on your best fruit tree! Once it's established it is fine to harvest some each year and both the mistletoe and the host tree should survive for decades.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack
 

Native trees are much better than non-native trees for attracting wildlife to your garden. This is because native trees house a wider variety of invertebrates, which in turn attract mammals and birds. Trees with lots of interesting features such as dead branches, splits, and hollows support the widest range of invertebrates, so try not to ‘tidy up’ trees unless they are unsafe.

Different trees will attract different species. Acorns from oak trees will attract squirrels, jays and woodpigeons. Cones from alder trees attract goldfinches. Dense trees such as yew and holly provide good habitat for greenfinches. Beech trees attract tits and chaffinches, but few insects. Berries from rowan and ash will attract many bird species. Willow trees host more than 90 species of moth caterpillar, which in turn will attract bats. Birch trees attract many species of birds, insects and caterpillars. Treecreepers nest in large, mature trees with loose bark, while hollow branches provide perfect habitat for tawny owls.

Ivy is not parasitic. It has its own root system, deriving its own nutrients directly from the soil. The tiny, root-like structures on its stems merely enable it to cling to the tree without damage to the bark. In rare instances, ivy may cause the toppling of a dead or rotten tree if excessive weight of leaves and stems near the tree’s crown make it top-heavy and cause it to blow over in high winds.

Ivy tends to grow well on trees that are already in decline. A tree in full vigorous growth will not usually allow sufficient light through the canopy for ivy to thrive. Oaks in particular naturally shed branches and limbs as they age. This is an entirely natural process. The dead wood so produced is in turn extremely valuable for wildlife: it becomes a food source for insects, which form a valuable food source for birds such as woodpeckers, while rot holes in dead wood are used by a wide range of species as roosts and nest sites.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack