1. The Alder Tree
By Rory Kinane

2. My Tree
The tree I am using for my project is an Alder tree. It is in my estate. It is about 16 years old and about 4.5 metres high. The branches are smooth with pale bumps. The trunk is rough with fissures and lichen.

3. Alder
Alder (Irish: Fearnóg, Latin: Alnus Glutinosa) is a deciduous tree native to Europe, North America and Asia. They are commonly found in damp areas near lakes and rivers. One of its names is Scots Mahogany because it is so good for furniture.

4. Facts The coat of arms for the Austrian town Grossarl.
A red dye can be extracted from the outer bark, and a yellow dye from the inner bark.
The flowers of the Alder tree are called catkins.

5. Folklore
The Irish considered it unlucky to pass an Alder tree on a journey. But if you put an Alder leaf in the sole of each shoe it would cool the feet and prevent swelling.
The living wood of alder is a pale colour but turns a deep orange when cut. This gave the impression of bleeding and led to all sorts of negative superstitions about the tree. 

6. Poetry Planting The Alder For the bark, dulled argent, roundly wrapped
And pigeon collared.
For the splitter-splatter, guttering
Rain-flirt leaves.
For the snub and clot of the first green cones,
Smelted emerald, chlorophyll.
For the scut and scat of cones in winter, So rattle-skinned, so fossil-brittle.
For the alder wood, flame-red when torn Branch from branch.
But mostly for the swinging locks Of yellow catkins.
Plant it, plant it, Streel-head in the rain.
          Seamus Heaney

7. Leaves