Alder

Alder can be recognised from its dark-coloured bark, light brown twigs with orange spots and catkins. It grows well in wet and poor soil and was used in the past to build boats. Not alone does it not rot, it actually turns harder and stronger in damp conditions. A deciduous tree, alder is the food plant for the caterpillars of several types of moths and its catkins provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees in spring.