04 November 2023

Elderberries

Look out for hanging clusters of dark blue-black elderberries, so much loved by birds that trees are stripped bare quickly when ripe. They are used to make elderberry syrup and wine. Elder supports many invertebrates, including many that feed on the jew’s ear fungus which grows on elder almost exclusively The leaves are similar to ash leaves but with fewer pairs of leaflets and as they change colour in autumn elder stands out in autumn. It is not good if topped in hedges as it results in gaps. Known as bour tree in northern parts of the country, elder is part of our native Irish biodiversity.