Species - Goat Willow (Salix caprea)
Location - Various
Grid Ref - Various
Also known as ‘Great Sallow’ and ‘Pussy Willow’ as the male catkins look like cat claws.
I’m lucky enough to have a Goat Willow at the rear of my house. Not only do the catkins look pleasant in February when flowering, but they attract plenty of wildlife throughout the year, and I’m definitely looking forward to the arrival of the purple emperor butterfly for which the Goat Willow is it’s main source of food.
This spring I have have already seen quite a few pollinators like Bees on the Catkins, and Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, and even a Tree Creeper visiting the tree.
The Goat Willow usually grows on the edges of woods, scrub and hedges, and doesn’t like shade. The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making. The plant is usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as uprights. The bark is tough and flexible, it is used as a substitute for leather.
The bark of willows contains Salicin, which has been used as a natural pain killer, and anti inflammatory agent. The leaves have been used to treat fevers, and a cordial made from the catkins used as an aphrodisiac. An all round medicinal tree, but be mindful that just as with aspirin, goat willow can cause allergic reactions in people that are sensitive to Salicylates.
