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Helpston's wildlife

Spindle tree

One of the great sights of autumn in the local woods and hedgerows is the spindle tree.

A relatively small and unassuming tree for most of the year, the spindle comes into its own in October as its distinctive pink-red fruits stand out amongst its dark red leaves. There is a tall and very beautiful spindle in the meadow of the Blacklands reserve, opposite Castor Hanglands, and a number of others along the western edge of Royce Wood.

The white wood of the spindle has been used from ancient times for making - yes you guessed it, spindles! The 'spinsters', usually unmarried girls, held raw wool in one hand and rotated it onto a spindle with the other. The wood of the spindle was also known as skewerwood and pegwood - indicating its other uses.

Previously the powdered leaves and seeds of the spindles were dusted onto the skin of children and animals to drive away lice.