The native Bird cherry, Prunus padus, differs from the Wild cherry or Gean (Prunus avium) in bearing its flowers in a long hanging chain or raceme, a feature of the section padus. In Scotland, Ireland, the north of England, throughout Wales, and as an outlier in Norfolk, it is found as a small bushy tree, often along stream-sides; but in the south of England, and especially our south-west counties it is not autochthonous. Why this tree, which is clearly native in the rest of Britain and the whole Eurasian northern hemisphere to Japan, is absent from the south-west of Britain is a mystery. It certainly grows well down here when it is planted, and there is no reason whatsoever to not plant it down here. The only place in the whole south-west region where it is truly native is in Gloucestershire along the Welsh border. There are south-west locations where it is well naturalised after planting in Dorset and Somerset. But when you get down into Devon & Cornwall it is unknown. It’s a shame, because it holds fantastic wildlife value.
Like wild cherry, the spring flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees. The cherries are eaten by birds, including the blackbird and song thrush, as well as mammals such as badger, wood mouse, yellow-necked mouse and dormouse. The foliage is eaten by caterpillars of many moth species, including the orchard ermine, brimstone and short-cloaked moth. However, it is toxic to livestock, particularly goats.
