Hawthorn

Hawthorn ~ Crataegus monogina

NGAG volunteers planted this native hawthorn on Newington Green in early April and one month later, it has come into bloom. In 2009 some hawthorns were also planted by NGAG as street trees on the pavements around the Green, as part of the WING project (Crataegus monogyns stricta) - 'stricta' means these trees have been cultivated to be slim and upright varieties, that are less likely to be damaged by passing traffic. They only have single blooms, which make it more possible for bees and other insects to find the nectar and pollen within the blossom.

Hawthorns have many uses and can be grown as a small tree or as hedging. At this time of year the hedgerows in the English countryside are full of white May blossom and they emit a loud hum, from all the insects buzzing around, enjoying the profuse amount of nectar and pollen found in the hawthorn flowers! These flowers support a huge number of insects (many of which are in turn eaten by birds), the mature trees provide a good habitat for nesting and the colourful autumn fruit are eaten by many birds and some mammals (including humans). They also have medicinal properties.

Birds that use hawthorns as a food source and habitat, plus have also been recorded in the Newington Green area are: Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Starling and Wood Pigeon. Most of these have already been recorded on the Green itself, some regularly, so it is good to provide another natural food source for them.

As the excellent website 'Plant Press' states: 'If you want wildlife in your garden you really should make room for at least one hawthorn and ideally, several!'. NGAG has now made sure that Newington Green has a number of native hawthorn trees growing around it, to be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.

You Can Eat Hawthorns!

Traditional names for hawthorns are the 'May Tree' as it flowers in May and 'Quickthorn' because it grows so fast. It is also known as 'Bread and Cheese Tree' because the very early leaves are edible and are one of the first wild foods available after the winter months. Apparently they have a nutty taste and are good added to potato and beetroot salads. The berries can be used to make wine and haw jelly.

The hawthorn is also associated with many English traditions and folklore, such as the old belief that if a maiden bathes in dew collected from a hawthorn tree on May Day, she is supposed to remain beautiful forever! However, it was thought to be unlucky to bring the actual sprigs of hawthorn into the house.

Anna Laetitia Barbauld, 1743-1825, poet, abolitionist and educator, who attended the Church on Newington Green, wrote of sitting under a thorn tree as she mused about the arrival of spring: 

'Ode to Spring':

'.....Now let me sit beneath the whitening thorn,

And mark thy spreading tints steal o'er the dale;

And watch with patient eye

Thy fair unfolding charms'....

May 2010