By Sean Fagan
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The dense, creamy-white blossoms of rowan, Sorbus acuparia, are always a delight to witness when ambling about (Photo: Sean Fagan)

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Getting to Know a Great Tree

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An often solitary tree - the rowan is often associated, but not exclusively, with highlands, as its other common name would indicate - mountain ash.

The wood of rowan is a poor fuel but a good carving wood and was once used to make bows because of the strength and elasticity of its wood.

In autumn, rowan trees bequeath dense clusters of red/orange berries - emblazoning many a hedgerow with a fiery dash of colour.

Rowan berries are edible but not very palatable to humans (but have been consumed in times of food shortage such as famines, similar to hawthorn berries).

The berries are eaten by a wide variety of wild birds. During autumn & winter, great flocks of migrating thrush species (Fieldfares & Redwings) devour rowan berries with gusto - often to the consternation of a local mistle thrush trying to defend 'its' rowan as a winter food source.

Medicinally, rowan berries had their uses..."the ripe berries furnish an acidulous and astringent gargle for sore throats and inflamed tonsils. For their anti-scorbutic properties, they have been used in scurvy" (Reference link at end of article).

If you haven't already I strongly recommend that you get to know this fascinating tree - not only from a bushcraft perspective but from other viewpoints - historical, folklore & biological - maybe even from an artistic perspective.

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I'm a big fan of understanding a subject from many angles.

Of course, if bushcraft is your core interest then getting to know the many practical bushcraft uses of rowan is a priority.

But it can be enriching to explore other avenues of inquiry as regards, for example, the rowan tree.

It's all part of developing a broader, more holistic view of nature - about tapping into the rich veins of lore associated with all of nature.

It's another way of understanding and appreciating nature and just as importantly - enjoying nature.

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