Rowan Trees

There are three young and thriving Rowan trees in the Charlton Down Nature Reserve. They are also called Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia). They looked particularly attractive the other evening with their heavy load of creamy white blooms So many small flowers arranged into generous clusters to entice bees and insects. The trees should also provide a plentiful supply of berries for the birds in autumn. We had one of these rowans in our suburban front garden when I was a child. My mother used to recount the panic she felt when she parked my pram in the shade of the tree and later discovered me eating the berries. I was rushed to the doctor but there was no problem, the berries are edible, and sometimes made into jelly but are very sour.