| Trees & Shrubs
There are over 30 different trees &
shrubs growing around and, sometimes, in the Gunpowder Works.
Ash (Fraxinus
excelsior)
Ash leaves appear in May
and fall with the first frosts permitting many woodland plants to
grow under ash. The seeds, known as ash keys, spread easily throughout
the woodland providing food for small animals or trees for the future.
Bullfinches eat some of the ash keys that remain on the trees during
the winter. Ash is another species that can be coppiced producing
poles for beans, handles for tools and highly valued firewood.
Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg)
A rapidly spreading shrub that
belongs to the same family as roses, brambles produce the familiar
autumn fruit of blackberries. With a long flowering season bramble
provides food and shelter for many animals. Bees feed on the nectar
and pollen, migrating birds enjoy the ripe fruits and small mammals
nest in the tangled growth, well protected from predators.
Dog Rose
(Rosa canina)
The arching branches of the dog
rose clamber over shrubby areas of the woodland, splashing the woodland
with its attractive flowers. As the rose hips ripen in the autumn,
many birds and small mammals eat the enclosed seeds and then deposit
the seeds in other parts of the woodland.
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
As birds feast on glossy black
elderberries in the autumn they spread the seeds throughout woodlands
and disturbed ground. It grows rapidly where the soil is enriched
by nitrogen so it is often found near abandoned buildings or near
badger setts. Traditionally the white flowers are used to make elderflower
champagne and the berries to make jams and wines.
Hawthorn
(Crataegus monogyna)
This is a deciduous native shrub
growing well at edges of open areas. It has blossom that is often
known as 'may' followed by red berries called haws. Many birds feed
on the haws whilst many moth caterpillars relish the leaves.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Holly can grow as a small tree
or as a shrub. It is tolerant of shade and can grow under tall canopy
trees. The leaves are evergreen and prickly. Trees are usually male
or female so not all trees will produce the red berries so characteristic
of this plant. These berries are a useful source of food for thrushes,
fieldfares and redwings.
Horse Chestnut
(Aesculus hippocastanum)
It is easy to identify the horse chestnut
tree with its large ‘candles’ of flowers in the late
spring. The prickly case protecting the seed develops rapidly. These
fall from the trees in the autumn, breaking open to reveal the familiar
conker. When the five or six fingered leaves fall from the tree
the leaf scar resembles a horse-shoe, a characteristic pattern that
enables the tree to be identified during the winter. The horse chestnut
tree was introduced into Britain from the Balkans in the late 16
century.
Oak (Quercus
spp)
There are many species of oak
throughout the world, with only two native to Britain. All oaks
produce an acorn that sits in some sort of ‘cup’. The
timber was traditionally used for building, ships and furniture,
the bark for tanning leather and the acorns to feed animals during
the winter.
Sequoia
(Sequoia giganteum)
A tree that was introduced into Britain in 1853, this is sometimes
called the coastal redwood of California. It can grow into one of
the tallest trees in the world. Once planted they grow rapidly forming
a dense canopy with downswept branches. The remaining stumps on
the testing range suggest these trees were very tall and probably
provided good all year round shelter to the range.
Silver
Birch (Betula pendula)
A very hardy tree growing rapidly from
tiny seeds which are the favourite food of birds like redpolls and
siskins. Silver birch supports many insects with, for example, many
moth caterpillars eating birch leaves. A pioneer species and one
of the first colonisers of gaps in the woodland, silver birch is
relatively short-lived surviving for about 60-80 years.
Sweet
Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
With a characteristic swirl to the trunk,
the sweet chestnut grows rapidly into a tall tree, which flowers
towards the end of June. The flowers, pollinated by insects, develop
into spiky husks that enclose the ripening nut. The sweet chestnut
was introduced into Britain from the Mediterranean, probably by
the Romans. In many parts of Kent and here at Oare the trees have
been coppiced. Approximately every 15 years the trees are cut down
to the base, leaving a 'stool'. The new shoots form straight poles
that are used for hop poles, fencing posts or fuel.
Sycamore
(Acer pseudoplatanus)
With its efficient dispersal of winged
seeds, sycamore is a species that develops rapidly in gaps created
deliberately or by natural treefall and thrives in heavily disturbed
soils … indeed it is often called a gap species. It is not
a native tree of the British Isles and experts say it may have been
introduced by the Romans. It is possible that some of the sycamore
at Oare was planted to provide rapid screening of industrial or
testing areas.
Willows
(Salix spp)
There are many species of willows, which hybridise easily. These
are deciduous trees with simple narrow leaves. At Oare Gunpowder
Works the willows are found throughout the very damp areas. Catkins
are visible in the early spring offering a welcome source of nectar
and pollen to flying insects.
Wych Elm
(Ulmus glabra)
Producing wood that is hard and resistant
to wetting, it is uncertain whether wych elm is a native or was
introduced to the site. Wych elm is easy to identify with its short
stalked leaves, which are rough to the touch, and bright green bunches
of seed visible on the tree before the leaves emerge.
There are many organisations that can
provide information about trees. Try the Royal Forestry Society
website www.rfs.org.uk
for general help or identify leaves using the on-line key at Forestry
Commission www.forestry.gov.uk.
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