Hazel is one of my favourite trees. It signifies ancient woodlands, and mans interaction with his landscape. Its sound in the spring when wind rustles the catkins is the first soft sound of the year and is an amazing place to see bees working flat out to collect protein (pollen) to feed bee larvae.
Worker bees will collect the pollen and packit around the developing brood for easy access when the larvae need feeding. It gives them the protein they need to grow. It is also harvested by beekeepers by creating a grating on the landing board in fron of the hive. Pollen has alot of health benefits to humans.
This is a hazel flower. Hazel is wind polinated, as all trees with catkins are. Wind blows the catkins full of pollen, and this is carried by air thorughout the area, and by chance some of it will land on the hazel flowers. Although bees will collect the pollen, they will not aid in the reproduction of the plant.
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