Does sycamore have any good points?
Sycamore is one of only three very common trees in Britain (along with Field Maple and Limes) that have insect pollinated flowers – small pale green flower clusters that hang in spring. These are a vital pollen and nectar source for bees. Einstein is famously misquoted as saying “If the bee disappeared from the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” It turns out he never actually said these words, and knew no more about bees than you or I, but pollination remains one of the most important processes in the global ecological system. Sycamore thrives in exposed sites where other native species struggle. Sycamore is hardy in lowland Britain to about 500m, but is far more resilient to exposure, industrial pollution and coastal salt than any of our native species – so it is prized as a windbreak tree in these areas. The Orkneys’ largest and oldest tree, the Big Tree of Orkney, is
