 Trees
PropagationPlanting
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Corylus
avellana is a deciduous shrub sometimes small tree
but rarely exceeding 8m in height. It grows in hedgerows and as understorey in
woodland. Large 5-12cm almost circular coarse leaves grow alternating, narrow pointed and double toothed with a
drawn out tip. Its striking feature is in winter when its bright yellow catkins, which are its male flowers appear from January to
April. Tiny red female flowers appear on the same bush which turn to nuts. One to four
nuts appear in green cups which ripen to brown in September. It is regularly coppiced for its hazel rods which have many uses.
 Collect nuts from the tree when brown, nuts on the ground may be early
ones which have fallen and may not be viable Sow straight away but protect from predators.
Crack the shell with a toffee hammer but don't remove shell. Green nuts can be statified
until they show signs of chitting.
 Hazel rods have been used by man for thousands of years,
conical boat frames where made from them.
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