Hawthorn: The Bride of the Hedgerow

by Sylva Fae

Hawthorn is a fascinating tree, most parts of it are edible, it has many medicinal properties and it is steeped in myth and folklore - it is also one of my favourite trees. Hawthorn hedges protect my garden as well as mark out the boundary between my woodland and the fields beyond. It is known by many names –May, quickthorn, hagthorn, whitethorn, mayflower, the faerie tree and if you’ve ever seen a hawthorn in full bloom, you’ll not be surprised to learn it’s also called, the bride of the hedgerow. In Welsh, it is known as Bara Caws - bread and cheese, because of the taste of the fresh, new leaves. The word ‘hawthorn’ comes from the AngloSaxon ‘hagedorn’ and old English ‘hagathorn’, which mean hedge thorn. This makes perfect sense as it was, and still is frequently used as hedging plant.

Foraging Fun and Recipes

(Never pick and eat a plant you cannot accurately identify.) Hawthorn berries have many health benefits. They are packed with nutrition, and have been used as an herbal remedy for heart failure, digestive issues and high blood pressure, for many centuries. They are loaded with antioxidants, have some anti-inflammatory properties, help to lower blood pressure and may ease anxiety. In spring, we often pick the soft, spring leaves to nibble as we wander along the edges of our woods. I wouldn’t say they tasted of bread and cheese, but they’re certainly tasty. We add the leaves to soups and stews, and make ‘honey’ with the blossom. Come autumn / fall time, the boughs are laden with blood red berries –delicious as a jam or jelly.

The versatile berries can also be dried and added to muesli, preserved as a ketchup, added to chutney and relishes, or processed into a fruit leather. This year we made jam from the berries that are weighing down our garden hedge. The plan was to preserve the berries and have jam throughout the winter…it was too delicious to keep! My eldest daughter tried to describe the unique flavour and, after several spoons to make sure, decided it tasted ‘just like Christmas’! For those of you who don’t know what Christmas tastes like, imagine a mellow, fruity maple syrup, with a subtle hint of mulled wine spices. I’m not really a strict recipe follower, I’m more of a, ‘chuck it in until it looks about right’ type of cook. Anyway, this is my recipe and it works for whatever quantity of haws you manage to pick.

Hawthorn Jam Recipe

By Sylva Fae of UK Bushcraft & Wild Camping Knowledge

Ingredients

• Hawthorn berries / haws • Sugar –any but I like to use demerara for a richer taste • Water • Half a lemon or orange. The berries contain pectin, so there is no need to add extra.

Method

1) Thoroughly rinse the berries. 2) Put the clean berries in a pan and add just enough water to cover them. 3) Boil for around 20 minutes, adding extra water if necessary, to prevent them boiling dry. 4) The fruit should have fallen off the large stone by this point, if not you can help it along by mashing it with a spoon. (My children love this bit!) 5) Strain the mixture into a clean pan. I mash it through a fine sieve using the end of a soup ladle. If you want a more refined jelly, you could use a jelly bag strainer. 6) At this point, look at the volume of liquid you have collected, and add the same volume of sugar. Mix in the citrus juice. 7) Simmer until it reaches the consistency you require.

As well as helping to run a bushcraft group, I also seek inspiration and expertise from a number of other bushcraft and foraging groups –no matter how much I learn, there is always more. Here are a few recipes by my foraging friends that I’ll definitely be trying:

Hawthorn, Apple and Hogweed Seed Ketchup

By Craig Worrall -Co-founderat The Association of ForagersatEdible Leeds -Wild & Wonderful

This ketchup is fruity, zingy, aromatic and downright delicious. (Sylva edit: Could be made without the hogweed seeds if not available.)

Ingredients

• 750g Hawthorn Berries • 2 Apples (large) • 3 Large Pinches Ground Hogweed Seeds • 350ml Cider Vinegar • 300ml Water • 150g Golden Granulated Sugar • Salt & Pepper

Method

1) Strip the haws from their stalks, wash, drain & place in a saucepan. 2) Chop the apples and add to the same pan.

Add the vinegar and water and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for approx 25- 30 minutes. 3) Remove from heat and using a wooden spoon or flexible spatula push the contents through a sieve to remove the seeds and skins. After this you should have a lovely magenta coloured pulp. 4) Add the hogweed seed, sugar, fresh ground black pepper and cook this gently for 10-15 minutes to thicken and to ensure the sugar dissolves. 5) Once happy with the consistency, add salt to taste, stir for a minute or so and then spoon/ pour into sterilised glass jars. Use as you see

Hedgerow Ketchup

By Vickie Marsland of Wild Free Food in UK

Ingredients

500g hedgerow berries (I used haws, crab apples, damsons) 300ml cider vinegar 170g sugar (I used half coconut sugar and half light muscovado)

Method

1) Pick all stalks and leaves from fruit/berries and rinse in cold water. 2) Chop crab apples in half, pierce damson skin, dice shallot and put in a pan with the haws. 3) Add vinegar and water to the pan, then add the spices, ginger and chilli flakes if using them. 4) Simmer until all the fruits are soft - haws will take a while and wait until their skins split. 5) Push mixture through a sieve to squash the fruit/berry pulp and remove stones, pips, skins and spices. 6) Discard the pulp and return the fruit ketchup mixture to a clean saucepan. 7) Add the sugar and heat gently until it dissolves then boil the mixture for around 5 minutes until thicker and glossy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 8) Pour into sterilised jars and seal. 1 shallot piece of ginger, grated 3 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1-2 star anise pinch chilli flakes (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Hawthorn Syrup

By Wild_to_Wow Food and Drink. Their Facebook page is so informative, and the photography is stunning!

Ingredients

• 500g/600g - hawthorn berries • 300ml cider vinegar • 150g/170g sugar 1/2 tbs salt 1/2 tbs pepper • Optional: add dried, chopped chillies or powdered chilli for a kick!

Method

1) Remove the berries from the stalks and wash well with cold water. 2) Add the berries to a large pan also adding the water and vinegar. 3) Bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for approximately 30 - 40 minutes, until the skins of the berries begin to burst. 4) Take off the heat and push the contents of the pan through a sieve to remove any stones and tough pieces of skin, and to extract the pulp and liquid. 5) Transfer the liquid to a clean pan, place over a low heat, after 5 minutes add the sugar stirring often to dissolve the sugar. Once dissolved, bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes more, until syrup-like and reduced. 6) Season the syrup to taste with salt and pepper, then transfer to sterilised bottles. This is

good to use for 1 year. Enjoy!

Myth and folklore

There are many myths associated with the hawthorn tree. It was considered good luck for a bride to carry hawthorn blossom, and the wood was burnt on funeral pyres to aid with the crossing into the afterlife. The word hag (witch) also comes from the same origin as hagethorn, and it is said that witches would ride along the spiky hedges to travel from one realm to the next. Traditionally it was thought that a hedge of hawthorn would protect the field and livestock, both physically and spiritually. The sharp thorns are certainly effective as a barrier! Related to this, the hawthorn tree was known as the abode of faeries, and stood on the threshold of the Otherworld. Anyone cutting down a faerie tree was doomed. This is my take on the folklore of the faerie tree…

The Children of the May

They say the May is a faerie tree, a mystical tree of magic and dreams, and she beats with a heart of secrets. Many hundreds of years ago, on the edge of the secret woods, Oak, Ash and May trees grew strong together. Their roots entwined, twisting and searching out the cool waters of the little stream. Their leafy branches reached high, catching sunbeams in the daytime, and crossing into the land of dreams with the setting of the sun. They swayed together with the breeze filling the air with the music of the trees. It was a time of peace. It was a time of magic. The May was the most magic of the three trees. She gathered in the first dew of the morning and soaked up the sun's healing rays, waiting for the perfect magical moment. Only the purest magic could create a tree faerie and that day was here. The sun and the rain clouds shared the sky above, casting twin arcs of rainbow light that came to rest at the base of the trees. It was a rare and beautiful sight. The May tree's roots were bathed in coloured light and sunshine twinkled off the many raindrops trickling down her leaves. May shone with glory as the magic stirred something below the soil. Slowly a green bud pushed through the surface. The outer leaves peeled back revealing a beautiful flower of snow -white petals. May shielded her precious bud, bowing down her twisty branches to shelter and

By Sylva Fae

protect it from the world beyond. Days went by, and the snowy bud grew and grew nurtured by the May tree. At her side, the Oak tree stood proud over her growing flower and the Ash tree waved gracefully as her willowy little flower swayed with the wind. Then one night, by the light of a round moon, the buds opened. The petals curled back as little arms reached through, stretching in the chilly air. Three tree faeries were born, created from the magic of the elements and each carrying a gift from their mother tree. The faeries lay in a nest of roots, twinkling in the moonlight as their delicate wings dried and unfurled. Faerie May was the first born, she carried inside her compassion and love, and the power to heal. Faerie Oak was next; he inherited strength from his tree, and the power of wisdom. And last was Ash, she had a heart of truth and possessed the power of enchantment. The three grew and played happily together. They danced in the meadow and flew between the trees of the secret wood. They bathed in the little stream, splashing each other with the cool water. Sometimes, they just lay in the grass casting spells to create creatures and castles in the clouds above. It was a peaceful time and the faeries knew only love and happiness.

All that changed when the people came. They arrived tired and hungry and looking for shelter. The bedraggled group of families collapsed under the faeries’ trees. The three faeries welcomed the newcomers, tending to their needs. Faerie May gathered the fresh new leaves from her tree's branches to feed them, Oak collected the fallen twigs and taught the men to make fire, and Ash collected water from the little stream to quench their thirst. The people gratefully accepted the gifts from the faeries and happily took shelter under the trees. For a time, everyone was happy. The faeries had new playmates and delighted in sharing in the children's joy as they explored their new home. The fields rang with faerie laughter as they played with their new friends. While they played, the grownups worked hard to build solid shelters and plant crops in the field. Everyone worked together and shared out their food, and there was plenty to go round. Occasionally, new travellers stumbled across the little village on the edge of the secret wood, the faeries and the villagers welcomed them in. The number of shelters grew and the little village became a thriving community. For a time, the tree faeries and the people lived in blissful harmony. One day a pair of weary travellers stumbled into the new village. They were half starved and greedily ate all the food offered to them by the villagers. They weren't like the other people though; they took what they wanted and never said a please or a thank you. They snarled grumpily and often shouted at the noisy children and demanded they play elsewhere. Nobody really liked them but the pair had decided to stay and everyone was a little too frightened to stand up to them. The tree faeries were scared and confused by the grumpy pair; they had never heard words shouted in anger before, and couldn’t understand why they were not grateful for the many gifts given to them. The children had secretly nicknamed them 'the ogres', and despite their caring natures, the faeries joined in. The friends took their games further afield, well out of sight of the angry ogres. One day, the faeries and the children were playing hide and seek deep in the heart of the woods. It was the children's turn to hide and Faerie Oak was counting. He'd barely got to ten when they heard a crash and a scream. The faeries flew swiftly to where the noise had come from. Down in the hollow, the smallest child lay whimpering and holding his arm. Strong Oak carefully picked up the tiny child and gently hugged him close as they flew him back to the village to get help.

Back at her tree, Faerie May looked at the boy and knew just what to do. Thankfully she'd never needed to use her gift before but now the magic of healing tingled through her fingertips. May picked berries from her tree squeezing their juice onto the lips of the littlest child to ease his pain. Faerie Ash looked round for the boy’s parents but the only people close by were the two ogres. He shouted to them for help but instead of helping they turned on the faeries in rage.

"You evil sprites have killed that child," roared the biggest ogre.

"You'll pay for this," his friend agreed picking up his axe. "Once we've got rid of you and your wicked spells, this village will be ours." The shocked faeries cowered in fear. May cradled the hurt child, tears stinging her eyes, she winced at their harsh words. She couldn't find the words to defend herself but she knew in her heart, they wouldn't listen anyway. Ash however, was forced to voice the truth. "The child had an accident. We only tried to help. It is you who need to leave, if this village is to be a happy place once more." The biggest ogre snarled menacingly and picked up his axe. He swung it at the trunk of the Ash tree with all his might, and laughed at the helpless faerie. Ash screamed and flew at the ogre but he swiped her away effortlessly. His cruel friend sniggered and swung his axe at the Oak tree. The two faeries cried out as they felt the pain of their mother trees, and as the graceful Ash tree came crashing down, Ash screamed and cast her first enchantment spell. The enchanted ogres froze, their axes dropped to the ground, and no matter how much they struggled, they were unable to move their arms or feet. They yelled and swore in rage at the frightened faeries, but Ash no longer heard their shouts. She crumpled, crying at the base of her fallen tree.

Confused villagers came running from all directions to see what the noise and commotion was. They stopped in wonder at the sight of the fallen Ash tree, then noticed faerie May clutching the tiny child, his lips still red from the healing berries. The boy's mother ran forwards to snatch her son back from the scared faerie. Before any of the faeries could explain, the angry ogres shouted to the villagers, "Look what these nasty sprites have done! We caught them trying to kill that boy, and when we tried to stop them, they cast their wicked spells on us.” The angry villagers turned on the faeries. Oak quickly grabbed the sobbing Ash and together the faeries huddled under May’s tree. The tree twisted and curled her gnarly branches over the faeries and sprouted fierce thorns to protect them from the angry mob. Ash wearily cast a second enchantment over the little May tree, a protection spell to keep them safe through the night. The faeries hid together frightened as they listened to the shouts of the villagers, spurred on by the nasty ogres.

The other children had abandoned their game after their friend had been injured, and arrived back to find their parents shouting at the faeries, over the fallen Ash tree. When they found out what had happened, they tried to explain about the boy’s accident, but the grownups were too angry to listen. By the time the ogres’ enchantment had worn off, the sun was setting and the villagers drifted back to their homes. The next day the faeries ventured out of their hiding place and quietly crept to the village. Hiding in the shadows, they listened to the villagers’ chatter; some sided with the ogres agreeing the faeries should be sent away, others listened to their children and argued that it was the ogres’ fault. Not one remembered that this had been the faeries’ home long before the people arrived. The faeries slunk back to the safety of the trees, sad that they were no longer welcomed by the people, and sadder still that the children had been forbidden to play with them. Time passed and the little child healed well after his fall, aided by the healing properties of the May tree. The villagers finally plucked up the courage to banish the ogres from their happy village. Things became peaceful once more but the faeries had seen how cruel people could be and it made them feel sad and unsafe. Some of the people no longer trusted the faeries, scared of their magic and enchantments. Anything that went wrong in the village, every failed crop, every sick child, was blamed on faerie magic. So, the faeries made themselves invisible to the villagers, and cast an enchantment of forgetting over the grownups. From that day on, the faeries hid during the day under the enchanted May tree, only coming out to play in the moonlight as the village slept. The villagers continued their lives, blissfully unaware of their magical neighbours. The children initially told tales of playing with faeries in the woods, but the grown-ups just smiled and dismissed their childish imaginations. Soon, these children grew up and the enchantment of forgetting settled upon them. The children of the May were safe from harm, fiercely protected by twisty boughs and vicious thorns. To this day, the May tree still beats with a heart of magic, but she now shares the gifts of the Oak and Ash faeries: compassion, wisdom and truth. She still provides leaves to feed the hungry and berries to heal the sick, and if you peep under the branches, avoiding the sharp thorns, you might catch a glimpse of a sleeping faerie.

Author's note

Dear children, Faeries are magic and wise and know which plants are safe to eat. You should never eat any leaves, flowers or berries while you play out in the countryside, unless a grownup has told you they are safe to eat. Have fun hunting for tree faeries, but don’t be surprised if your parents can’t see them.

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings. Her debut book, Rainbow Monsters won the Chanticleer Best in Category award. Discover more about Sylva on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/