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Sycamores Fill the Gap

The illegal felling of the 'Sycamore Gap' tree has put the spotlight on a tree that many have mixed feelings about. On the Isle of Man, sycamore's role is now so important it may save our landscape. Ash die-back and Dutch elm disease will kill, not thousands, or tens of thousands of trees, but hundreds of thousands of trees on the Island. Almost every roadside and river side is lined with elm, ash and sycamores and when the first two are gone (as most will be in the next ten years) it will be left to sycamore to fill the gaps. Simply put, without sycamore, the Island would look a fairly barren place in years to come.
Sycamore at Glion Darragh

Andree Dubbeldam

Origins

Native to central Europe, sycamore has been on the Island for over 250 years, In its early days it would have been an exotic sight, but its very suited to the Island's climate, surviving in salt winds and high altitude and has made itself at home. It is now more common as a self-sown tree, indeed for many gardeners it is a nuisance weed, rapidly developing into saplings in places it is not always wanted. 

Conventional ecological opinion has historically been negative too. It has colonised ancient woodland altering their unique ecology and edging out native trees like oak and ash. Their insect diversity of around 15 species contrasts poorly with 60-400 for most Manx native trees. For a generation or two of conservationists, sycamore bashing (removing sycamore from native woodlands) would have been standard practice. 

Sycamore in May

Not a Weed

Its October, and the sycamore in my garden is losing its leaves and the greenfly are retreating into the tree. Its easy pickings for goldfinches and bluetits who are foraging in flocks to take the greenfly before they find places to hide. Before they hide however they lay clusters of eggs, which will be caviar for the birds all winter long.

April and May bring blossom and sycamore has the most prolific and valuable flowers of the lot. Loved by pollinators from bees to St Mark's flies they fill an important nectar and pollen gap

From Celtic rainforests to roadsides, sycamores continue to bring wildlife and resilience to our Island. Most mature sycamores on the Island are still youngsters, perhaps 100 years old out of a tree that can live over 400 years. Their best is still to come.

Just beware of the messy sycamore aphid, parking under it will soon leave your car sticky with their sugary 'honeydew'.

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