Elder?

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

THOaken

Native
Jan 21, 2013
1,299
1
30
England(Scottish Native)
Hello. I'm wondering if this is Elder. I would like to make an Elder whistle and it looks like this may be it, if my research is correct. Serrated/toothed leaf margins (opposite), bark is grey-brown with corks and longitudinal furrows.

RxlHYGR.jpg


Thank you.
 

outdoorpaddy

Nomad
Mar 21, 2011
311
3
Northern Ireland
Looks like Elder (Sambucus nigra) to me! good spot. One good way of recognising it is by the smell of the sap, its difficult to describe but its very distinctive and you'll be able to pick it out anywhere. Also if you can find a nice straight branch as thick as your finger and about half a meter long you might want to nab and let it season incase you ever want to try the hand drill.

paddy
 

Chiseller

Bushcrafter through and through
Oct 5, 2011
6,176
3
West Riding
Elder it is......
For health reasons , don't play the whistle endlessly.....

When seasoned it make very very hard pegs .
Don't forget to ask the tree if you may cut it. Elder is a tree is considered a very spiritual tree and some may say it brings bad harmony to burn elder......
Enjoy your whistle :cool:

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 

THOaken

Native
Jan 21, 2013
1,299
1
30
England(Scottish Native)
Thanks, everyone, for the confirmation.

Yes, I've read about the toxins in Elder, but I won't be using it too much. It's just a fun side project.

If I cut a small finger sized piece it will grow back, or heal over?
 

Stringmaker

Native
Sep 6, 2010
1,891
1
UK
Elder regenerates very well; just do the usual thing and cut close to the parent stem/branch/trunk to leave it tidy.

"Old girl, give me some of thy wood and I will give thee some of mine when I grow into a tree."
 

Joonsy

Native
Jul 24, 2008
1,483
3
UK
elder makes very good tent/tarp pegs as well, very easy to split and very hard when seasoned, lighter than steel pegs but not titanium and hold better than metal pegs in ground.
 
Elder it is......
For health reasons , don't play the whistle endlessly.....

When seasoned it make very very hard pegs .
Don't forget to ask the tree if you may cut it. Elder is a tree is considered a very spiritual tree and some may say it brings bad harmony to burn elder......
Enjoy your whistle :cool:

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

the smoke from elder is definitely acrid and choking.
wonder if that had anythin to do with the view it was bad luck to burn?


*not arguing against asking permission first just wondering out loud as it were*
 

Joonsy

Native
Jul 24, 2008
1,483
3
UK
I used some elder to make a blow pipe for my tent stove, it works a treat and it was free. I used some strong galvanised fencing wire to de pith the stem.

i often just pick up a bit of himalayan balsam when around for same purpose, won't last long though which means you have to pick more of the stuff on the go which is great news as it's much too widespread nowadays and needs reducing, it chokes riverbanks completely nowadays.
 

crosslandkelly

A somewhat settled
Jun 9, 2009
26,265
2,212
67
North West London
i often just pick up a bit of himalayan balsam when around for same purpose, won't last long though which means you have to pick more of the stuff on the go which is great news as it's much too widespread nowadays and needs reducing, it chokes riverbanks completely nowadays.

Nice tip, I'll remember that when I'm at the moot this year, it's full of the stuff.
 
mate I'm all for spiritual outlooks and have my own viewpoints that I'll discuss over a dram around the fire anytime you find yourself in my neck o the woods :)

however a lot of outlooks were also influenced by practical reasons too



*its well off topic and not within policy to discuss spiritual views on here*
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
elder makes very good tent/tarp pegs as well, very easy to split and very hard when seasoned, lighter than steel pegs but not titanium and hold better than metal pegs in ground.

Great idea for a nice set of pegs for the bell tent thanks. Elder is incredibly strong and light when seasoned. Also seasons easily with less checking than other woods.
Elder can also make a good tobacco pipe. No idea where the toxicity thing stands there but I imagine most of it to be in then sap, bark and leaves like most.
Also makes an excellent bow so I hear, never had the right piece my self due to its natural shape.
 
Last edited:
Feb 18, 2012
534
10
Bedfordshire
i often just pick up a bit of himalayan balsam when around for same purpose, won't last long though which means you have to pick more of the stuff on the go which is great news as it's much too widespread nowadays and needs reducing, it chokes riverbanks completely nowadays.

Thanks for the tip. we certainly have an abundance of it locally. I live near Flitton Moor which is choked up with the stuff despite the sterling efforts of the volunteer clearance team.
 

Melonfish

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 8, 2009
2,460
1
Warrington, UK
Elder is a cracking wood, great for allsorts of whistles, flutes and even for jokes about taking the pith when you're out with company.
it's dad joke territory defo but you know..
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE