Signs and sounds of spring are beginning to be seen and heard around the reserves. Birds are beginning to sing and we’re seeing the odd territorial dispute. New green shoots of iris and others are poking through and lesser celandines flowers are opening, offering a splash of spring colour to the verges.
Trees too are awakening from their dormancy and none more evident that the alders (Alnus glutinosa) that are dotted around the reserves which are suddenly heavy with catkins.
Alders are monoecious meaning that a single specimen contains both male and female reproductive parts. The pendulous catkins are the male element whereas the smaller, spherical woody ‘cones’ are female. Pollination is triggered by the wind.
We also have grey alder (Alnus incana) on the site, which is an introduced species from Scandinavia and can cause problems through cross-fertilizing with native alders and so are controlled. Yet another of the example of the perils posed by introduced species.