Wild Service request for Roving UK Seed Collectors

[Boots]

Hedgehogpie has just shared with me a tree known as a WILD SERVICE TREE. Its botanic name is Sorbus Torminalis.

It is recorded as quite rare, so I am not sure how often it may be encountered while fruiting, but I would really like to try raising some seed.

As there are a few here who enjoy foraging and wandering through the forests, would you mind keeping an eye out for me and if possible collect, dry and send me some seed? I'd be happy to pay for your time and post.

Here is an ID link [/url] http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/trees/service.htm [/url]and some pics to help with identification...



Leaves-


Fruiting -

[2steps]

I have been looking out for one here as I've been told the fruits are very nice but no luck yet

[the.fee.fairy]

As i said on the thread, i live near Hatfield forest, and there's a few trees there that look like this one, so next time i take the dog there, i'll have a look around for it.

If i can find a fruiting one at some point, i'll grab a few berries and send some your way too.

Poke me in the future to remind me to look though, i have amemory like a colander!

[Boots]

Thanks Fee - That would be great.

[Shirley]

It's on my wishlist too - I'll keep my eyes open!!

Edited to add that having clicked on Boot's link I don't think it grows up here

[Hedgehogpie]

Shirlz (and other interested parties) this is a bit of a dry old document but there are some nuggets of info in there about Wild Service distribution and it's favoured geology that you might find useful. Don't give up hope, just because it's not common doesn't necessarily mean it can't grow where you are.

(Sorry it's a pdf )

http://www.bsbi.org.uk/Vol19p209.pdf

[the.fee.fairy]

according to all the stuff i've read today (the stuff posted here), we have the perfect growing conditions - clay soil and light. So, i reckon there'll be a few in the forest, it'll just take a bit of looking (in the spring, when the trees have leaves again, and don#t all look like overgrown sticks!).

Hatfield Forest is a mediaeval hunting forest, so its old too, all the more chance of finding the tree. And, it gets coppiced regularly, so hopefully, it will have flourished!

[the.fee.fairy]

How do i identify a sucker?

[Shirley]

How do i identify a sucker?

That's a leading question

[Shirley]

Shirlz (and other interested parties) this is a bit of a dry old document but there are some nuggets of info in there about Wild Service distribution and it's favoured geology that you might find useful. Don't give up hope, just because it's not common doesn't necessarily mean it can't grow where you are.

(Sorry it's a pdf )

http://www.bsbi.org.uk/Vol19p209.pdf

Really interesting HHP - thank you. Sorry, I didn't notice this reply last time I checked this thread

[cazzie]

Hi
I planted three of these trees in my exposed windbreak five years ago, they're as tough as old boots, to be honest, I haven't noticed whether they have fruited yet.
My young trees came from John Holliday near Ludlow in Shropshire, www.johnholliday.co.uk only collection from the nursery or local delivery tho. Other tree suppliers should be found on www.rhs.org.uk on the plantfinder section - there are currently sixteen suppliers doing mail order for this variety. Internet searches for seed comes up with www.agroforestry.co.uk but looking on the website it's a little "unfruitful" pardon the pun
Just noticed "boots" is in Australia www.starhillforest.com in Illinois USA is listed as stocking the seed. I have a few more American suppliers on my list if anyone needs more.

[9ball]

Fee.Fairy, you really are making me miss Hatfield forest, I used to live in that neck of the woods and went there regularly. Most of the woods round here are so new feeling and piney. I would have thought there would be a few Wild Service trees around Hatfield, memory serves that are a fair few pubs named the Chequers back in Essex, the name must have come from somewhere.

[Karen_Grace]

Hi Fee Fairy
I would be interested in having some wild service tree berries too. I saw the tree on Ray Meers Wild Food show.

[pskipper]

176 Sorbus domestica

Service tree, Checker tree. A medium tree from Southern & Eastern Europe, growing to 15 m (50 ft) high. Bears large crops of large (25 mm, 1") fruits which are edible bletted or cooked, with a an excellent rich flavour when fully ripe; the fruits are commercially used as a source of fruit juice. The timber makes good fuel and the bark is used for tanning. Likes sun or part shade; hardy to -20°C.

Stratification: CS17 Packet (17 seeds): £2.15

Cold stratify for 17 weeks (@~5'C)

https://secure.agroforestry.co.uk/seeds2003.html

[Karen_Grace]

OOOh
Looking at Hedghogpie's link, looks like there may be some trees by me in the old Arden Forest. If I can find where it was! Must be somewhere round Henley in Arden