Ireland’s Native Trees - EPISODE 7 HAZEL

Ireland’s Native Trees is a series of short movies funded by the Creative Ireland Programme. Different trees have been selected and a short film created focusing on each individual tree species. In each movie, we explore how to identify the tree, what role the tree plays in supporting biodiversity and what the tree does for us - eco-system services. The movie’s are for anyone with an interest in Ireland’s native trees to learn how to identify them and on their importance in the Irish landscape. The movie is shot by Charlie Joe Gallagher in the wonderful Glenveagh National Park and narrated by Aengus Kennedy of NatureNorthWest. This episode explores Hazel.

[jcjc]

Brilliant series of videos! So important given our society has completely lost touch with nature!! Every town in the country should have its own native woodland where family's can enjoy walks and kids can learn about nature!

[geraldinekent]

Thank you . Just joined a walking club and will now identify our native trees .

[simondennehy]

This is such a fantastic series! I'm loving every one of them!

[Brunosadventures]

Thanks for the video series. I am enjoying learning about our native trees and feel inspired to plant a hazel in my garden..

[daviddoran]

Great series lads! Really informative. Have a Hazel growing right outside my window here.

[diffleysfamilyfarm]

What a wonderful video. Should be shown in schools. Bravo 👏

[lunisora]

It's o pleasant to listen to and watch this interesting series about the lovely trees, many thanks!✨☘️🌿

[jennywyse]

Oh this was just so enjoyable, I learnt a bit more about one of my favourite native trees! Thanks Aengus. I often wondered when they start producing nuts, I mustn't have been quick enough to spot mine, tree is over 10 years down!

[mohiniahirwar]

Thank you for this trees series of Ireland

[anemone]

Nice video. Heartening to see local government investing in re-making people's links to their environment.
Your film asserts that hazel is a pioneer species that doesn't live very long.

I'm more used to seeing hazel as a woodland understorey species which can take on a pioneering role in open ground, with animals and birds transporting the large seeds which, like acorns, contain enough resources to boost the little seedling towards growing through dense, rank vegetation.

Hazel can also be a very old tree indeed, aided by its habit of shooting from the base and producing 'sun shoots' that go for the light - it regenerates. Coppice it and the stool (the stump cut in full expectation that it will re-grow) will sprout from the edges of the cut stems. This produces a thicket of equal-sized stems and the stems in the centre tend to be out-competed by stems on the edges in the first couple of years. Cut again (7 years) and again and the stool tends to spread and turn into a ring. If generations of man keep cutting, the tree can get very large indeed, but not all the 'ring' survives - it looks to be several close-spaced stools. Shade it and the stool 'cycles down' gradually losing numbers of stems. This tends to mask the true size of the tree - it may be that in an ancient coppiced woodland where regular coppicing has long ceased, adjacent small stools with small numbers of large stems may actually be clones and part of a very old (and large) aggregate organism. Re-start coppicing and sort out your standards (often oaks) and in the UK control heavy deer browsing, and your stools will regenerate and 'cycle up' once more.

[mohiniahirwar]

Very relevant video for learning purposes

[biekken]

Mooie aflevering. 2 jaar geleden zo’n 250 hazelaars geplant toen een stuk bos van mij kaal was geslagen. Het zijn snelle groeiers. Ook last van wildvraat. Maar het is een schitterende boom.

[miapulchritudinous]

Thank you for great video. Looking forward to eating fresh hazelnuts, just a few, I'll leave some for the squirrels.

[radharcanna]

Another great film. Keep them coming. It would also be good to hear or see the names of the trees in Irish, especially as you’re filming in Tír Chonaill! The Irish names are very ancient too.

[anjarivinius]

You´re soo right, no original "Nürnberger Lebkuchen" without hazelnuts !