hazel

The hazel - scientific name Coryalus avellana - is a tree with many uses. It is often coppiced, a type of woodland management that encourages regrowth. Not only can hazel be made into baskets, hurdles, charcoal and pea sticks, it also creates an important habitat - and a food source - for a large variety of insects, birds, moss, lichen, and other wildlife. It is monoecious, which means that that both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. 

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Hazel is easily recognised by its hairy, oval leaves, jagged at the edge with a pointy tip, catkins in the spring and, of course, its nuts, or cobs. Look out for hazel coppices, too, where you'll see each tree with multiple stems. 

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