Common alder is a short-lived fast-growing tree that grows naturally throughout Britain. It thrives in the wetter areas of the north and west but grows wherever there is ample year-round water. Wet woodlands dominated by common alder are also known as "alder-carr." Although coppiced in the past for turnery and charcoal – the preferred charcoal for gunpowder production – common alder does not presently have a significant role in productive forestry but is commonly planted as part of establishing native woodlands.
Alder’s natural habitat is moist ground near rivers, ponds and lakes and it thrives in damp, cool areas such as marshes, wet woodland and streams where its roots help to prevent soil erosion. It can also grow in drier locations and sometimes occurs in mixed woodland and on forest edges. It grows well from seed and will quickly colonise bare ground. Because of its association with the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Frankia alni, it can grow in nutrient-poor soils where few other trees thrive. Once established, Alder is very tenacious of life and will re-grow from coppiced stumps.
Traditionally used for making broom-heads and cheap tool handles. An important historical use was as soles for clogs, a tough shoe worn predominantly in the north of England. Though a poor firewood producing low heat, Alder yields good charcoal, and the old gunpowder mills were built near Alder swamps.
At Trebrown Nurseries we maintain our own registered select seed stands on Trebrown Farm, which remain the only seed stand registered in Cornwall. Alnus glutinosa is a FRM controlled species.
