Catkins

The golden catkins of hazel are a familiar sight 

at this time of the year.

But look out for the purply-red catkins on alder trees

You can always tell alders because they carry not only the catkins but also last year's little conelets in bunches.  

There are three species of alder found in this country: the grey alder with more silvery bark, the Italian alder which has much bigger conelets and our native common alder. 

On a sunny day in winter the conelets show up a bright chestnut brown

You can tell common alders from their very vertical shape and their tolerance of wet conditions alongside streams.  When they are growing in a wiggly line across the landscape you can be sure there is a stream there.