Alder Tree Facts (Alnus)

'Generosity', 'Strength in Battle', 'Death' (Celts)

Associated with the Goddess of Spinning, as it makes good dye.

Celtics associated it with death, and many feared the tree because it bleeds when cut.

Historically, it was used to make measuring rods for corpses and coffins, and also shields, and its wood makes fine-grain charcoal for gunpowder.

Venice was built with this tree for the piling and some of them are 1200 years old.

Alder trees in the Great Forests of Dean and the Weald have survived well because they were primarily grown as the main sources of charcoal, therefore Alder trees continued to be planted for this important use.

Arrived in Britain around 8000 BC.

Nodules that form on the roots of Black Alder contain apple-sized bacterial growths, which absorb nitrogen from the air and give the tree this important element.

Grows best in damp environments.