For most of the year, this small native tree is not much to look at. It is easily overlooked in hedges and scrubby woodland, unnoticed among the more obvious and straightforwardly identified trees such as hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple and ash. In autumn, however, spindle comes into its own. Its foliage turns a deep red, but the real attraction is its beautiful fruit.
Spindle berries are bubblegum-pink, a lipstick shade that seems almost shockingly bright in an autumnal British hedgerow. Each berry has four lobes, which when ripe burst open to reveal an orange ‘seed’. Strictly speaking, the real seed is hidden inside: the orange part is a soft covering known as an aril. Botanical technicalities aside, the orange-pink colour clash is spectacular. A few birds, such as blackbirds and robins, adore eating the berries, but they take care to reject or bring up the poisonous seeds.
These photos were taken in Longridge Lane and up Foscombe Lane where we can see examples of spindle trees in the hedgerows.
Wildlife loves its leaves and fruit, and aphids flock to it, bringing with them an array of their predators.
Spindle is an ancient-woodland indicator. If you spot it while you're out exploring, it could be a sign you're standing in a rare and special habitat.
Great for wildlife
The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of moths, including the magpie, spindle ermine and scorched, as well as the holly blue butterfly. The leaves also attract aphids and their predators, including hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings, as well as the house sparrow and other species of bird.
The flowers are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects such as the St Mark’s fly. Uses
Spindle timber is creamy-white, hard and dense. In the past it was used to make ‘spindles’ for spinning and holding wool (hence its name), as well as skewers, toothpicks, pegs and knitting needles.
The fruits were baked and powdered, and used to treat head lice or mange in cattle. Both the leaves and fruit are toxic to humans – the berries having a laxative effect.
Today, spindle timber is used to make high-quality charcoal for artists
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