STOP 3: Ivy Berry Tree

Remember never to pick and eat strange berries, as many are poisonous to people. Ivy leaves can cause a mild skin irritation in some people.

Ivy is a fantastic home for nature! It is evergreen, so it keeps its leaves all year round. Its dense cover provides shelter and protection for many birds, bats, insects and small mammals. Nectar and pollen from the flowers and ivy berries are important food sources for insects and birds during autumn and winter, when there is not much else left to eat.

Bramble too, with its tangle of stems and sharp thorns, provides great safe places for birds to nest. Pollinators love its small clusters of pink or white flowers in summer, and juicy berries in the autumn, give birds energy and us too! Do you think a blackberry and apple pie would be just perfect after a walk around the nature trail?

Activity:

Can you spot any ivy flowers or fruit? Look on the trees, walls and fences to see if you can see any tiny roots, where the ivy has attached itself.

Can you see any bramble plants, with their sharp thorns and blackberries growing? Keep an eye out for the holly trees, with their prickly leaves and bright red berries. Tiny black berries are growing in bunches on the elder trees, can you see these? Berry trees are perfect for planting in small spaces.