Hazel (Corylus avellana) is one of the most common trees in the UK and across Europe. Identifiable by its smooth grey-brown bark and unique leaves - quite round, with double toothed edges and soft and hairy. It is fast growing, producing multiple shoots and can eventually reach a height of 12 meters and live for up to 80 years. However, when coppiced, as it has been historically, it can live for several hundred years because the regular cycle of cutting gives the plant periods of rest. The only problem with coppicing is that cutting it down low to generate multiple stems makes it susceptible to deer damage if not protected.
Some Hazel forests are very ancient. For example, those on the isle of Raasay, near Skye, in Scotland, where hazel has actually become the dominant canopy species in its own right, are some of the oldest in the UK.
Hazel is monoecious – which means male and female flowers are found on the same tree - but can only be pollinated by pollen from other Hazel trees (self-incompatible).
It is of great value to wildlife: its leaves are source of food for caterpillars, coppiced hazel provides shelters for ground nesting birds such as the nightingale, nightjar, yellowhammer and willow warbler, the trunks are often covered in mosses and lichens, and the hazelnuts are eaten by many birds and small mammals, including, woodpeckers, jays, wood pigeons and dormouse - who not only eat the nuts as a good source of food before hibernation, but also eat the caterpillars that eat the leaves. However, because it is predominantly wind pollinated the pollen grains aren’t sticky and actually tend to repel each other. So although hazel produces pollen when there is not much around, is hard for bees to make honey out of it because they can only carry it in small loads.
Hazel has also been cultivated to produce a variety of nut called a cobnut. The UK climate is well suited to them and original name of “Kentish cob” illustrates the close ties this particular area has had with this species. There is still a “Kentish cobnuts association” and managed cobnut orchards, albeit far fewer in number than there once were.
Hazel wood is able to be bent back on itself without snapping – even tied in a knot. Historically it was produced primarily in the form of coppice poles and, in medieval times it was split and extensively used for the ‘wattle’ which sat between the beams of houses (and which formed the supporting fabric of plaster walls). Split hazel was also used for livestock enclosures in the form of woven wattle hurdle fences. As well as the straight poles being used for walking sticks, traditionally they have also been used to make charcoal – once an important ingredient in gunpowder, and though nowadays hazel charcoal is a favourite of artists.
In Celtic legend nine nuts fell from the Hazel into a river and were eaten by a magical salmon who absorbed all the wisdom they contained. Hazel will therefore open up your channels of creativity – inspiration and inner guidance.
In past times hazel rods were supposed to protect against evil spirits, whilst hazelnuts were carried as charms to ward of rheumatism and as a symbol of fertility. A relatively rare practice now, but very common in the 16th century, is divining for water, for which hazel, given its magical powers, was a favoured species for divining rods.
Healing properties: hazel will help you to open channels to your creativity through inner guidance, inspiration, and inner knowledge. Meditate with the hazel tree and declare your readiness to receive inspiration and guidance. Carry a sprig of hazelwood – carve it into a simple talisman. Use hazel whenever you need to overcome creative blocks, and whenever it is important that you follow an intuitive path rather than a well thought out plan.