The May Tree

The hawthorn is rooted deep in our history, folklore, and medicinal uses.

You will often find hawthorn entwined into hedges, but it will happily grow within most soils and can be found standing as a lone tree out on the heath or in the understorey of a woodland. During May, it bursts into beautiful white (and sometimes pink) blossom, giving it the name, the May tree or the May Flower. The May Flower used to be made into garlands as decorations for the celebration of Beltane, but it also has an association with death. This is due to the sickly, sweet aroma of the blossom which folk either love or hate, with some saying it smells like rotting flesh. This is caused by a chemical called trimethylamine and is also the first chemical caused by a decomposing body. This chemical cleverly attracts insects, and when hawthorn is in flower, it will be a buzz of pollinators. In fact, hawthorn supports over 300 different types of insects.

During Saxon times, it was favoured as hedges due to its density and thorns and was used to mark boundaries. This, I feel, is where a lot of the folk tales come from, with its association with fairies and fae to keep unwanted visitors away! It is believed that if you cut or damage a hawthorn tree, it will bring misfortune or death as the guardians to the other-worlds reside within the hawthorn trees. To this day, you will often see a lone hawthorn tree standing in the middle of a farmer's planted field, as this superstition is rooted in generations of land workers. Although, due to its ability to create superb hedging, it is also associated with protection, as it keeps the livestock within a field. With its use within the Beltane festival, it is also believed to represent fertility. Although, it's also believed to be unlucky to bring hawthorn into the house, but I think this is probably more to do with its smelling of death!

The young leaves and flower buds of the hawthorn are edible. Children were encouraged to pick and eat them on their walk to school, and they were known as 'bread and cheese.' and the berries can be used for jellies, syrups, tinctures, and ketchup.

Hawthorn is known as the heart healer. It helps regulate blood pressure and contains vitamins B and C. I make hawthorn tincture every autumn from the berries and take a spoonful every day to support my immune system through the colder months.

But, whatever you forage from a hawthorn tree, make sure you ask permission first, you do not want to upset those fairies!