Sycamores

[shirl]

We have 14 sycamores at the moment plus all those little seedlings which I have probably missed! The bark is covered in different lichen and moss species and the birds love them. Our oldest tree we think dates back about 100 years (not too sure on it's age but there is a postcard of it taken in the 1920s and it was a very mature tree then). They can be a bit invasive, but I like them.

Shirl

[parsleythelion]

what do i think of sycamores? they're no better than they should be.

[ChrisJB]

Suitably seasoned, the firewood is half decent as well.

Regards, Chris

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Sounds very interesting, Paul - have you any literature on this that you can point me towards? I always like a good read on this sort of subject! Ta

Chris

There's an article in British Wildlife Vol 18 2006 pages 18-28 The value of different tree and shrub species to wildlife by Keith lexander, Jill Butler and Ted Green that covers a lot of the ground.

ps I think sycamores are great - they'll survive where almost no other tree will do and the further north and west you get that becomes important.

[stripee]

We have a large sycamore here, it's over 100 yrs old and dominates, it has many offspring but these can be got rid of. It seems to attract insects and bees. Some insurance companies don't like them though

[aestarte]

We have a sycamore tree to the side of our house and it's a beautiful tree, only about ten years old so a baby but we use it as our feeding station and we have put up nesting boxes as well. In the summer it is stunning and when the wind blows the sound is stunning too. I love my sycamore, I love all trees but this one is special to me because it provides pleasure all year round. Fi.X X X X

[poschiavanus]

There is another article in British Wildlife vol 16 pp. 184-8 by Ted Green called "Is there a case for the Celtic Maple or Scot’s Plane?", which calls into question some of the standard story of sycamore. For instance that it is: poor for biodiversity, an alien etc. Worth reading for an alternative view, and very thought provoking.

poschiavanus

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by stripee

We have a large sycamore here, it's over 100 yrs old and dominates, it has many offspring but these can be got rid of. It seems to attract insects and bees. Some insurance companies don't like them though

Insurance companies tend not to like any trees. Indeed any plants or animals!

[hobble]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Insurance companies tend not to like any trees. Indeed any plants or animals!

They would hate my place then!!! Sycamores, sycamores and more sycamores.
We have disappeared under the canopy, just a small gap of sky left now.
All have TPO's on them, I wonder what happens when the canopy spreads over our whole house which could be within the next 5 years or so.
Sycamores are fine here with no leaves, but it feels a bit like someone has turned the lights out.