Fraxinus excelsior
FAMILY NAME Oleaceae
CHARACTERISTICS Pinnate leaves around 35cm (14in) long bearing pairs of finely toothed leaflets
HABITAT Fertile, deep, well-drained soils; often dominates woodlands
DISTRIBUTION Europe, Asia Minor, Africa
FLOWERS AND FRUIT Small purple flowers appear at tips of twigs before leaves in spring; winged fruits resemble bunches of small keys
The Ash is known for its healing properties. In British folklore, sick children were often given a teaspoon of ash sap to cure them of any ailment, and babies were passed through its boughs for this purpose. The Vikings considered the Ash sacred – their ‘World Tree’, also called Yggdrasil, was an Ash. Its roots reached down to the underworld and its branches up to the heavens. According to one legend, the god Odin hung from this tree for nine days and nights, an ordeal for which the ultimate prize was enlightenment and the wisdom to create the runic system. The Ash is a perfect wildlife habitat for many species including woodpeckers, owls and nuthatches.