Common ash Fraxinus excelsior

Steeped in mythology and superstition, the ash is one of Europe's largest native deciduous trees. Widely used for its excellent timber, its unusual leaves do not appear until May about a month after it flowers.

The ash, also known as the common or European ash to distinguish it from other species of ash, is one of Britain's most common native trees. Its distinctive greyish bark and ability to thrive in rocky limestone regions, plainly mark it out from Britain's other large trees.

In Norse mythology, the tree of the world was an ash called Yggdrasil. Its roots reached down into hell while the crown of the tree touched heaven with its huge trunk connecting the two. Odin, the greatest of the gods, carved the first man from its wood.

While the ash is not quite large enough to reach from heaven to hell, it is one of Europe's largest native deciduous trees and can reach heights of up to 43m (140ft) with a girth of 6m (20ft). But size was not the only great wonder of Fraxinus excelsior in days gone by. It was believed that passing a sick child through the cleft of the tree would cure it. In addition burning logs of ash was thought to drive evil spirits from the room.

As well as these superstitious benefits the ash is a practical tree and has long been used for its timber. At one time it was coppiced, or cut down to a stump, every few years to reinvigorate new growth and ultimately produce new timber. The wood itself is tough and springy making it ideal as handles for tool such as axes and hammers, as well as for recreational uses - hockey sticks, tennis rackets and skis were all made of ash at one time.