Hazel

Hazel nuts, cob nuts or filberts are available around October and if you need a wind break why not harvest nuts as well. Store the nuts in a dry place and they will be excellent for Christmas.

Hazel produces male catkins which open up in February the pollen of which fertilises the female flowers (it is a good idea to shake the bush during this time to assist fertilisation).

Apart from using hazel as a wind break it can be coppiced - traditionally cut every 7 to 15 years.

Coppiced hazel can be used for all types of woodland crafts, because it is a supple timber, from wattle fence panels, walking sticks to fishing rods.

Propagation

The time to plant is between October and Christmas or layering in autumn is the best way to retain true- to-variety of stock.

The life of Hazel tree is about 60 years but if coppiced then it can survive up to 600 years.

The nuts are important to the survival of the dormouse which eats the nuts as do the grey squirrels.

Corylus Avellana the Latin name for the Hazel tree comes from the Greek Korys meaning helmet referring to the cap covering the nut. Avellana comes from the town in Italy called Avella where the nuts are grown. Hazel is from the Old English Haesel.