Wild service tree - also known as the Chequer Tree
Sorbus torminalis
Description
The Wild Service Tree is one of our less well known native broadleaf trees. It is rarely found in gardens, being almost exclusively confined to ancient woodlands in England, especially to the south eastern counties. The leaves are deeply lobed with small teeth and similar in appearance to those of some Maples. However Wild Service leaves grow alternately on the twig whereas all Maples grow opposite to one another on the twig. The leaves turn from green to shades of gold and deep red in autumn. Mature Wild Service Trees typically grow to between 9 and 12 metres tall but can reach 20 metres. The bark is rough and grey-brown in colour, often with small cracks and not readily distinguishable.
The Wild Service Tree may propagate by seed or grow from root suckers. Current observations indicate that trees grown from seed occur less frequently, possibly due to changes in climate affecting dormancy or to infestations of the seeds by caterpillars.
Situation
The trees may be found in ancient woodland sites throughout the New Forest, growing both as isolated specimens or in small groups of up to half a dozen specimens; the latter form indicative of suckering origin.
The name Chequer Tree has a number of possible derivations, some ascribe it to the way the bark flakes and some as the name given to the fruits.
Season/Life cycle
| Flowers | Leaves | Fruit |
| May White flowers in clusters at the tips of branches |
April Palmate shape with 7 to 9 toothed lobes |
October Clusters of berries, initially green but ripening to a dark reddish brown about the size of a small grape, containing one or more seeds. Ripe berries are said to have a unique taste, similar to Medlar |
Uses
There is little documented use of the timber and the scarcity of trees in modern times is not conducive to traditional forestry uses. Probably the best use of the tree nowadays is that its presence in a woodland is indicative of the area as ancient woodland.
