[valleyforge]

Seefeld,

The scientist in me requires a 'cause and effect' solution to this phenomenon.

All fruiting plants, including trees, have optimum conditions for pollination to occur ... not too wet, light winds, and/or the presence of sufficient pollinating insects, which is partly dependent on the same weather conditions, at just the right stage of pollen development. There is usually then a fairly narrow 'window' of opportunity for the pollination process to occur in any species.

So these are primarily micro-climatic causes that will and do vary markedly from one year to the next, one place to the next. The additional fruit this year simply indicates that the pollination process was more successful this year, than you have maybe seen before.

I think this year the conditions were close to optimum over quite a large part of the country, as up here we are already seeing the formation of greater than usual numbers of rowan berries and gean (wild cherry).

So, in the event of poorer weather towards the end of the year, there should be a good supply of fruits for the wildlife that depends on it.