I like to speak up for the Sycamore,
which when allowed to grow can make one of the most lovely and
majestic trees. We had a huge handsome specimen on the exposed
Welsh hill farm where I used to live. Over the last 30 years
I have experimented in Wales with leaving a few fields (in two
different localities - one up in the hills of Carmarthenshire and
the other close to the sea in Pembrokeshire) to naturally re-seed
itself with native trees. However, I was worried about Sycamore
being present with countless seedlings in both places, but even so
the Ashes have won the race for dominance and the new small
woodlands can best be described as Ash Groves with some
blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel and birch and some oak and sycamore
specimen here an there.
So in spite of the abundance of seedlings, at least here in South
Wales, Sycamore cannot be said to constitute a serious threat to
our native trees.
Yet it seems to me that Sycamore
often comes along like one of Nature's Knights in shining armour
when there is a piece of bare land in need of TLC, which people
have not given it.
In one the last "Broadleaves" (The Woodland Trust
Magazine) it is acknowledged that some experts think that the tree
may have been here as early as the Roman period and also that the
Sycamore makes an excellent ecological contribution: "its
bark is an important substitute for elm, hosting rare mosses and
lichens; and it supports a greater volume of insects (mainly
aphids) than any other widespread tree - vital for tits,
chaffinches and goldcrests in years when food is hard to come
by."
We can also add that sycamore is the
only widespread large common tree with insect pollinated flowers
and is a really important source of pollen and nectar for bees.
Lime trees and Field Maples are others, but not so widespread.
I read somewhere (I think in a BBC
wildlife magazine) that more than 150 small creatures have some
food or other connection to the tree. The huge harvest of fallen
leaves each year breaks down readily and helps to improve the soil
wherever it grows. Even the thousands of seedlings the tree
produces are really appreciated by hungry woodmice.
Alan Mitchell was one of the most
knowledgeable foresters this country has possessed recently. He
was also very outspoken and passionate in his views. He reminded
us, that "no native tree can thrive like the sycamore, giving
shelter in extreme maritime exposure on limestone soils at over
300m (1,000ft)"
Now this is something worth thinking about when Scotland has only
about 4 large native trees, which will grow to the sort of size to
be useful for many timber purposes.
It is true that Sycamores have taken extremely well to cold acid
soils of the North Highlands of Scotland up to 400 or even 500m.
high. It is the most successful planted tree in Outer Isles like
Orkney and Shetland. Its leaves are extremely tolerant to the
salt-laden sea-winds.
Crofters might be encouraged to plant Sycamores as part of a
tree-planting effort which all crofts could benefit by for many
reasons: windbreak, shelter for grazing animals and growing other
crops, compost making, biodiversity, local timber supply and
firewood. Sycamore coppices extremely well and the uncoppiced
trees will make a magnificent contribution with their handsome
domes to the good looks of the place. The yellowing leaves may
look tired in the autumn, sucked dry by aphids and fungi, but what
lovely spectacle to see the multi-coloured leaves unfolding
(relatively) early in the year.
The pale hard timber has some
excellent qualities, although it needs treatment to be used
outdoors. It is great for making wooden floors, veneers, furniture
and joinery. It does not take up smells, so traditionally it was a
favoured for making wooden bowls, kitchen utensils, milking pails,
butter-handlers, butcher's blocks, etc. In spite of being a hard
wood it is relatively light, a very useful quality for specialist
applications, such as saddle-making in the past. It is also sought
after for use in a variety of musical instruments. It is a good
firewood, even with a minimum of seasoning.
Note from webmother to
page visitors:
Many of these pages are still bare bones. Whenever time allows, we
will continue to add information to the Tree Gallery until all the
trees have descriptions of their habitat, characteristics,
cultivation, uses and anything else of interest. Why not get
involved with enhancing this web resource by sending photographs
of trees, bark, details of branches, leaves, flowers, seed and
fruit in all seasons (Good use of all these new digital cameras!).
Email us if you are keen to know more about a particular tree and
we will do our best to complete that one next.
Traditional knowledge:
The-Tree also offers a page where
you can read the entry for Sycamore
from "A Modern Herbal" (Mrs. M. Grieve, ed. Mrs.
C.F.Leyel) published in 1931. Obviously things have moved on
since then, yet this book is still often unsurpassed in its scope
and depth of traditional knowledge. The page pops up in a new
window. Close it to return to the Tree Gallery.
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