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Holly

The Holly is a native of Britain & Ireland and has come to symbolise Christmas

Average height 7-20 metres

Evergreen, spikey leaves

Latin name; Ilex Aquifolium

Distribution; Common throughout the British Isles.

A heavy crop of berries is seen as a natural sign of a cold winter ahead. The berries appear in Autumn and although they are poisounous to humans birds like Blackbirds, Redwing and Fieldfares love them.The seeds are spread by bird droppings after they have passed through the birds digestion system.

The decorating of homes with evergreen Holly leaves dates back to pagan times.

The timber from Holly is white in colour and dense. It is traditionally used for chess pieces and for inlay work.

The leaves can be used to feed livestock and were often grown for this purpose. This practice reduced after turnips were used instead from the 18th century onwards.

Holly can be used for hedging and it's spiky leaves can act as a natural deterrent to potential intruders.

In May the Hollly flowers, producing small white flowers. It also attracts the Holly Blue Butterfly which lays its eggs on the tree.

Holly likes shady areas and is often found as an understorey tree in Oak woodland.

In heraldry Holly is used to symbolise truth.

In medieval times it was Holly used for the Yule log to be burnt on the Winter Solstice.