Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

MAY blossom was better than ever this year. This old hawthorn that I call The Green Man and have known for 40 years had another thick crown of white blossom. Soon his crown will turn red as rubies when the haws or peggles ripen.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Jun 2007, 12:44 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:33 BST

The mistle thrushes and the redwings will then take his crown apart and General Winter finish him off, stripping all his leaves. Hawthorn has represented green men way back into our history.

A 13th century carved green man as found in the Chapterhouse of Southwell Minister is typical. Young people revelled in in its powerful symbolism.

Older people like those I knew as a child in backward Norfolk villages, thought the scent from all that frothy white blossom, with its curious sexy smell ( caused by chemical tryethylamine was going to cause real trouble amongst the young.

Sixteenth century reformation laws had already forbade the worship of the Virgin Mary statues using using May blossom bowers punishable as a capital offence.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette June 27

West Sussex Gazette Norfolk