The mild south westerly winds that we have been experiencing last week, have woken up host of plants from their winter slumber. The Forestry Commision planted the area behind our house four years ago with a huge mix of native and some non-native trees and shrubs.

This weekend, while taking Finn and Molly for their walk, I noticed that, just in a week, the Corylus avellana ( Hazel- wheat coloured catkins ) and Alnus glutinosa (Alder --- black/purple catkins) have become smothered in catkins.

The difference in growth between these two plants is remarkable. All of the trees and shrubs were approximately 40-60cm (18”-2ft high) when planted. Four years later the Corylus are about 1.2-1.5m high, whereas the Alnus are about 4-5m high.  This is the reason many farmers and land owners use Alnus as a windbreak, because they attain a tall hedge fairly quickly. However Corylus also makes a lovely hedgerow, with the added bonus of Hazelnuts. Both these can still be planted now as bare rooted plants until late March.