Kate Bradbury's mystery tree is a wildlife
Gardener Kate Bradbury finds a dying, unidentified tree in her Lewes garden is a vital habitat, daily visited by her favourite bird, the treecreeper.
Kate Bradbury moved from Brighton to the outskirts of Lewes, where her garden backs onto the remains of an old oak wood. A mystery tree, nearly dead and possibly due to drought or natural aging, stands with branches almost reaching her bedroom window.
Some have suggested it is a willow, but Bradbury suspects it is a cultivated species she does not recognise. Without leaves, flowers, or fruit, identification remains difficult. The tree is stressed from too many droughts or may simply be coming to a natural end.
Life in the bare branches
The exposed branches lay bare a rich world of birds. Tits, robins, blackbirds, thrushes, woodpeckers and nuthatches are all drawn to its bark and structure. Beyond the tree, she observes a family of tawny owls in the trees and a cauldron of bats in the chimney. A badger makes snuffle holes in the lawn.
The treecreeper’s seasonal visit
Her favourite bird, the treecreeper, stops by each morning. She spots its white bib first, then uses binoculars to admire its detailed brown and gold plumage, which helps it blend with the bark. It moves around the tree as if climbing an imaginary curved staircase.
The bird searches for insects and spiders, using its long bill to probe beneath the bark. It clings to the trunk with curved toes and uses stiff tail feathers for balance. Treecreepers are resident in Britain but leave their breeding territories in autumn. They move to winter habitat in nearby woodland or park, sometimes joining a roving group of tits. Her morning visitor may soon be gone.
Hope for return and renewal
Bradbury has plans to let the wood expand into her garden. She hopes the treecreeper will return in spring to build a nest of spiders’ webs, grass, moss and feathers. She acknowledges that dead wood is full of life, as evidenced by the treecreeper and other wildlife.
"Standing dead wood is a rare garden habitat, and I admit to worrying about winter storms and the tree’s proximity to my house," said Kate Bradbury. Despite the worry, she is watering the roots of the mystery tree in hopes of moist soil yielding more growth. Fresh growth in the canopy may make identification easier soon. She hopes there is life in the old tree yet.
