The tree in in the photo has seed looking clusters already in early June? The leaves are Ash tree looking. The bark is shown in other photo. The location is Edenbridge, Kent UK and the aspect is full sun, the tree may have been planted in 2000 to mark the millennium. It seems odd for a tree to be having seed clusters so early in the year? Or is it? Any ID appreciated.
Looks like an Ash tree. Perfectly normal to have keys by early June. Pic below is 8th June 2020 in Perthshire. Scotland. South UK is always miles ahead of us up here.
Yep, Ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The bark photo shows a tree that is much older than 2000 planting (just 23 years!); I'd say it's around 70-100 years old at least.
Thank you both for your replies. When the Millennium wood was created I imagine this tree, which is on the boundary must of already been in existence. Regards Richard Masson
Amazing that tree it is still healthy. Nearly all local Ash trees here are dead/dying...Ash die back killing them all. So sad. First Elms all dead ..now Ash.
I heard about it. It's present in France too, but not everywhere (yet!), not in my region at least. It first appeared in Poland from what I've read, and spread westward. I read an article a couple of years ago about a forest in the south of England, where almost all the Ash were sick. They hoped to reproduce those that didn't get the disease hoping it was a strain that is (more) resistant to the pathogen. Fingers crossed... Or "touchons du bois" as we say (~= knock on wood). I also have two potted Fraxinus sinense, they look almost exactly like Fraxinus excelsior : maybe hybridation between different subspecies could save them.
I understand from my daughter in law that Ash keys can be eaten when young (if not woody) or pickled.
Every day is a school day. Interesting..i never knew that. Not sure I would want to try them. https://wildplantguides.com/2021/05/27/foraging-for-ash-keys-fraxinus-excelsior/
