Species watch: how the bog-loving alder tree can fight against the tides

The bog-loving tree's capacity to hold back flood water upstream makes it increasingly importantFrom deepest Hertfordshire along a chalk stream called the Mimram comes a plea for appreciation of the alder tree (Alnus glutinosa) from the conservationist Rev Tom Gladwin. The felling of these trees along the riverbank has destroyed the habitat of many creatures. The alder, a lover of damp places, particularly bogs, river and lake banks, was one of the first trees to colonise Britain after the last ice age. In Hertfordshire its soft wood makes it a favourite for hole-nesting birds, such as woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers. Related: Country diary: the wondrous black alder lives fast and dies young Continue reading...