Spindle- definitely my favourite berry of the year, we have a Spindle tree in the garden but the crop of beautiful berries is definitely better in Sussex, as here in my sisters garden. This lovely hard-wood, small tree provides nectar for bees in spring, great autumn leaf-colour and these wonderful berries, eaten by the thrush family. Stems were used to make ‘spindles’ and used by the ‘spinsters’, women workers in the early spinning industry. Also known as ‘skewer wood’ and ‘peg wood’, it is now used for high quality drawing charcoal. Conditions: Cool and cloudy. Temperature: Max 9- Min 4C.
Spindle
Spindle berries
Spindle
Sheffield city nature diary by Penny Philcox 