Wild Service Tree

A special ancient woodland indicator at Bach y Graig is the wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis), a member of the rose family. The tree is closely linked with ancient woodlands and hedgerows because it reproduces vegetatively, by growing new shoots known as suckers from its roots.

Wild service tree grows on clay in eastern and southern England, and at Bach y Graig; and on limestone in other areas in the west. It is mainly found in the southern Weald from Kent to Hampshire, but is also often found in the Severn and Wye Valleys and along the Welsh Marches (as the border area with England is called). The tree is also found in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, south and east of Birmingham, Suffolk, Essex and east Hertfordshire and in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. In many of these counties it is linked with old forests.

The berries of wild service tree were used in the past to make an alcoholic drink. Some say the berries were fermented to make a beer, but others think it was added to an alcoholic spirit in the way that sloes (the fruit of the blackthorn Prunus spinosa) is still added to gin. In the past it was thought that the name wild service tree came from the Latin cerevisia, which means a fermented drink. This is no longer believed to be true. It is now thought the name comes from the Old English syfre.

In some parts of England the berries were known as chequers or chokers, and you sometimes find this as a place name and often as the name of a public house.

Opening Times

All year round from dawn until dusk each day. Between October 1st and March 1st the trail may have to be closed on some days to allow woodland management works to take place.

Contact Details

David & Anwen Roberts
Bach y Graig, Tremeirchion,
St Asaph, LL17 0UH

Tel: 01745 730627
Fax: 01745 730971

E-mail: anwen@bachygraig.co.uk
Website: www.bachygraig.co.uk

Ancient semi-natural woodlands and ancient woodland sites are important for plants and animals, many of which cannot live anywhere else.

Many of the plants growing in ancient woodlands do not, today, produce fertile seed. If they are to spread or to replace themselves they must do so by producing new plants from their roots or from side shoots. This process is known as vegetative reproduction.

Plants that reproduce by seed can more easily find new places to live, as their seed can be carried by the wind, or by birds and other animals. Plants that use vegetative reproduction cannot move far and cannot move from one woodland to another. They cannot survive if woodland is cleared. Such plants are therefore a special feature of ancient semi-natural woodlands and ancient woodland sites, because these sites have been woodland for many centuries. In fact, the link between such plants and ancient woodlands is so close that where you find them you can be fairly certain that you are in ancient woodland. Such plants are therefore known as ancient woodland indicators.

Bach y Graig also has many other ancient woodland indicator plants, such as bluebell (Endymion non-scriptus), primrose (Primula vulgaris), ramsons or wild garlic (Allium ursinum) and wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa).