The midpoint of the Sett Valley trail is a perfect place to stop and savour the delights of the beautiful Bird Cherry tree. A tree that loves to grow near water, there are several dotted around here in the wet woodland and by the stream bank.
A particularly lovely one lies in the field by the public footpath leading up to Hayfield Road. At the moment these trees are covered in clusters of creamy blossom which have a powerful scent of almonds.
Eventually the tree will develop black berries. Like most plants it had a range of uses in the past: its bark was once used to ward off the plague and its berries to dye wool.
PC