Hazel (Corylus avellana) pollards

Abstract

Hazel (Corylus avellana L.) always forms more or less ring shaped multistemmed shrubs in naturally grown or coppiced stands. Examples are given of large hazel shrubs in the Åland Islands, SW Finland. If only one above ground stem is allowed to develop, the hazel developes into a tree. Hazel trees are rather rare; a few examples are mentioned from Finland, Sweden and Norway. Hazels are rarely pollarded. A few have occurred in the Åland Islands and in Sweden. Two stands with hazel pollards in Scotland are described and the former use of these hazels is discussed. The reason for pollarding hazel was perhaps the use of the cut branches for fertilising meadows and cereal fields, or as fodder for goats. Another reason could be that the hazels were pollarded for producing nuts.