Seagull said:
Hello all.
In my local wood, I notice that Hazel nuts are ripening, but I dont understand why its mainly the trees at the Western - end, of the woods which come to fruit.
Why should this be so?
Seagull
Seagull,
Nothing to worry about and this is quite common.
There can be many reasons for trees not baring fruit. Hazel is a unisexual tree. If the hazel doesn't throw out it catkins ( male) then the ovoids ( female) will not be pollinated. No pollination equals no fruit ( nuts).
This is first thing to look out for but you must first be in the woodlands to observe that the hazel has thrown out its catkins which is usually December-March. Next year you may notice that the hazels at the Eastern end fruit and not the ones in the West. Some hazel is completely sterile and will never fruit.
I always leave a strong stool uncoppiced in every block of hazel that I cut and the reason I leave it is simply so that there is a 'seed tree' left in the block, this will help with natural regeneration as nine times out of ten, you are felling it before it is old enough to fruit. But beware that it is now August and August belongs to the squirrel -the biggest threat to our ancient woodlands.
Jack.
