The Hazel tree (Corylus avellana) is a common sight across the UK, usually growing in managed coppices; in fact, coppicing Hazels is so normal you might be surprised to learn that it really is a tree and not a large shrub! Hazel trees have been a feature of our landscapes and our mythology for aeons, and their nuts are enjoyed by people and animals alike.

Left to their own devices, Hazels are capable of reaching 12 metres in height, and can live for around 80 years! Coppicing a Hazel (that is, regularly cutting down the stems and allowing them to resprout) reduces the overall height of the tree, but promotes vigorous growth and can even extend their lifespans. Their large leaves are deeply wrinkled and tend towards a rounder, more oval shape, with a serrated edge and a soft, hairy underside. The seeds, in the form of a nut, are wrapped in a leafy brown husk and grow in clusters, and long yellow catkins appear in the spring, sometimes referred to as “lamb’s tails”.

In Celtic times, the Hazel tree was considered to be a symbol of wisdom, with the nuts themselves representing the sum of the wisdom gained by the tree. In Ireland especially the tree features heavily in folklore, in particular in the stories of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the mythical hero who gained immense wisdom from eating the Salmon of Knowledge, which had itself become wise from eating the nuts of a grove of Hazel trees. In keeping with its reputation for wisdom, Hazel was a popular choice for water dousers, who used Hazel rods to divine hidden water sources.

Thanks largely to their nuts, Hazel trees can support a huge variety of life, from birds and small mammals to humans! The Hazel Dormouse is particularly well known to feed on hazelnuts, and squirrels and woodpeckers are also common visitors to these trees. The coppicing of the trees creates an excellent habitat for nesting birds, especially those that nest closer to the ground like Nightjars.

Hazel wood is also a useful material, and is experiencing something of a resurgence in popularity. Hurdle fences made of Hazel stems are becoming more common and are a traditional method of fence building. When young, Hazel is very flexible and pliant and can be used to weave in the same way as Willow, and the wood can make and excellent source for hand carving, although it must be worked on whilst green and fresh as it seasons into a hard and sturdy timber.

It is possible to forage from wild Hazel trees, however it can be hard to get to the nuts before they are taken by the local wildlife! It is also important, if you do have a good local source of wild nuts, that you forage sustainably and don’t remove too much of the local ecosystem’s food. The best time to forage for Hazelnuts is in September or October, before the nuts are fully ripe. You will then need to allow them to ripen and dry out before eating.

Thanks to its manageability, hardiness and usefulness in promoting biodiversity, Hazel is a great choice for conservation projects and woodland management, as well as being an interesting option for creating hedges in domestic gardens. If you have a Hazel, or would like to have one, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for some no-obligation advice and support!

Image Credits:

Lead Image - Luca, 5/09/2022

Hazel Tree - Sciencia58, 02/05/2022

Salmon of Knowledge - Justin McCarthy, 1904

Hazel Coppice - People’s Trust for Endangered Species, 2023

Hazel Dormouse - Bjorn Schulz, September 2006

Hazel Fence - Simon Barnes, 09/07/2006

Hazelnuts - Guilhem Vellut, 01/07/2021

Bluebells in Spring - Tom Hurley