From May into June a striking sight in hedgerows and scrubby areas is the elder. This large shrub or small tree is common throughout Britain and is easily identified by its large creamy flowerheads or umbels which smother it at this time of year. Elders rarely grow as tall as 15m, and are quite short-lived; a 60 year-old elder is a veteran. Elder generally has a short trunk with corky, furrowed bark and relatively few branches. It will grow back vigorously when cut, which allows it to survive repeated cutting in a hedgerow. New growth has soft, bright green stems.

Those big flowers provide a nectar source for many insects and are eaten by some of the smaller mammals. Later in the year they turn into glossy, purple-black berries which hang down in big bunches. These provide food for birds and mammals and the seeds, when deposited in the droppings of the animals that ate the berries, germinate easily on disturbed ground. As a result, elder is often found around badger setts or fox earths.

Elder wood is very poor for burning and its smaller branches have a pithy centre. This can be hollowed out, and, in the past, hollowed stems were used with bellows through which to blow air into the centre of a fire. Consequently, it has been suggested that the name elder comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'aeld', meaning fire.

A number of ornamental varieties have been developed with purple or black leaves, coloured flowers, or deeply cut leaves. Because of their modest size and good response to pruning, these are popular in gardens and support wildlife.

In the past, leaves, bark and berries were used to make different coloured dyes used in the production of Harris Tweed. These days, the most common reference to elder comes in the ubiquitous elderflower cordials on sale everywhere. But the flowers and berries can be used in a variety of ways, as long as you avoid the raw berries, which are poisonous. Cooked berries, which are rich in vitamin C, can be used to augment blackberries in a pie or used to make cordials and wine.

The flowers, which should be collected when fresh – before they start to smell unpleasant – and shaken to remove insects, and can be dried for later use in cordials or wine. I’m sure there are many in the village who will have marvellous recipes. My favourite is elderflower champagne, although I haven’t made it for a while after too many exploding bottles brought a degree of customer resistance in the kitchen.

​Andrew Graham

​We will be walking out onto Collard Hill where, as well as other summer butterflies and flowers we will hope to see the fabulous Large Blue butterfly which has been successfully reintroduced to this site.

Please contact us if you'd like to join the trip and tell us whether you'll meet us at at the site or at the Nadder Centre to car-share. No dogs.

Meet at the Nadder Centre for 10:30am departure or meet at 11.30am at the Ivythorn Hill National Trust Car Park south of Street, Somerset. OS:ST488340. What3words: ///timed.deck.dream

Distance, Difficulty and Footwear - We will be walking 3 or 4 km at a very gentle pace. Collard Hill is steep and the ground uneven so to explore it fully you will need to be prepared for and able to handle those slopes. Stout walking shoes and possibly a walking stick are recommended.  Bring a packed lunch and refreshments.

Anticipated end time on site: 2:30pm. Return to Nadder Centre by 3:30pm.