50 Species for 50 Years
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is 50 years old on 23rd July 2012! To celebrate this event and the fact that the Trust and its staff and volunteers have been working hard all this time to protect, improve and manage species and habitats in Wiltshire, the WSBRC has decided to showcase 50 iconic, rare or otherwise interesting native species which can be found on its fantastic reserves.
Species of the week 20th February 2012 - Alder (common)
A sure sign that spring is on its way the emergence of catkins on Alder indicates the awakening of woodlands after winter. A native broadleaved deciduous tree standing at 15 – 25m it is primarily found in wet environments in particular along the banks of streams and rivers.
From February to early April the Alder is a distinctive sight with yellow-brown catkins contrasting with the red cones of the female flower. At Clouts Wood, a site covered by woodland since the end of the last ice age, the variety of chalk and clay streams and springs dispersed throughout the site make it an ideal habitat for the Alder. Find out more
