| | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
1
|
2
| |
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
| |
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
| |
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
| |
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|  » Stats |
Members: 50,187
Threads: 82,434
Posts: 853,804
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, Della | |  | 
06-02-2011, 07:44 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Usually found near water. (South Somerset)
Posts: 235
| | | Ash Keys
Has anyone else noticed that many ash trees didn't drop their keys last year. Down on the Somerset Levels there are dozens of trees that still don't appear to have dropped any. I guess by now they wont be viable (hung out through one of the coldest winters for years). Anyone know why this should be?
Andy |
07-02-2011, 01:28 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 32
| | | Re: Ash Keys
A lot of the ash in Worcestershire still have keys, not sure if they held onto them because of the cold winter, as less chance of germination on the frozen soil, but that is my guess. |
07-02-2011, 03:22 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
Posts: 154
| | | Re: Ash Keys
The keys on my ash tree (in Bucks) are only just starting to fall now but I'm sure the bunches often stay in place right through winter; they certainly did last year. I'm sure I read somewhere that the keys over-winter twice before germinating which, if true, would suggest they are pretty resistant to cold spells.
Richard |
07-02-2011, 03:55 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 951
| | | Re: Ash Keys
Yeah! It`s not unusual for the keys to stay on over winter. I have never been into the intricacies of it but I do know that this is quite normal. I cant even say if all are viable seed or not. |
07-02-2011, 05:53 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,227
| | | Re: Ash Keys
There's a Saxon poem which I seem to remember mentions Ash keys as edible one year and 'foul falling' the next. It has been 30 years since I read it but that was the gist.
h |
07-02-2011, 08:41 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 32
| | | Re: Ash Keys
New knowledge came to me at college when we were planning a nature walk. Apparently, they stay on in mild autumns, but we got told this by someone that is more into the farming and agriculture side of the course. Amazingly, our tutor didn't know...  suprises never cease |
08-02-2011, 03:11 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 951
| | | Re: Ash Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcvarlh  There's a Saxon poem which I seem to remember mentions Ash keys as edible one year and 'foul falling' the next. It has been 30 years since I read it but that was the gist.
h | Thanx, That`s a new one to me I will try to find it.
Dave |
16-02-2011, 03:26 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Near the Brownwich and Chilling cliffs
Posts: 988
| | | Re: Ash Keys
We're down on the south coast and I happened to shoot this today - because like Andy I was surprised by how many keys were still hanging, with the buds already coming. ATB, Rhona  |
19-02-2011, 01:31 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 951
| | | Re: Ash Keys
I have been reminded. When my kids were young they always took the micky out of Dad worrying about The Ash trees because they still have keys on them. I think that these trees have slowly rotted since then -25 years ago. Not died but are dying more quickly than would normally be expected.
Grandad always had a saying about all life tried to reproduce it`s own kind if it sensed that it was dying. He was born around 1880 and had loads of that sort of stuff.
I don`t know if any of this is relevant.
Dave |
12-04-2011, 12:51 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
Posts: 154
| | | Re: Ash Keys
Two months later and most of the ash keys are still hanging on, as this year's leaves are appearing. I guess they'll come down some time soon! 
Richard
__________________
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. | | |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
| | | 0 members and 170 guests | | No Members online | » New Wildlife Posts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | » New Environment Posts | | | | | | | | | » New Activity Posts | | | | | | | | | » New Community Posts | | |  Spammers! 01-06-2012 01:53 PM 8 Replies, 199 Views | | | | | |
