Well that was very tasty; I've just finished a garlic sandwich - but more about that later.

My wife, Angela, and I went to Portglenone Forest (Antrim) a few weeks back to see the bluebells. They have about a hundred acres of them there and a signposted Bluebell Walk.

Mystery

Forest Officer Darryl Ridge inspects the trunk of our mystery tree with my wife Angela. Now both of us are rather inquisitive so on returning home she made several phone calls and a few weeks later saw us back at the mystery tree only this time accompanied by Darryl Ridge who is the Forest Officer of the Forestry Service and responsible for the North District woods under State Care.

A Silviculturist

He thought he knew what our tree was, but explained that "as I'm a silviculturist I'll consult my arboriculturist colleague to make sure". I beg your pardon? Could you just run that past me again please? Apparently a silviculturist is knowledgeable about forests and woods whereas an arboriculturist specialises in species of trees.

Flowers of mystery tree So after an inspection, we took several photos of the blooms and a couple of small samples of leaves and then set off back with Darryl to the car park and a walk through the forest under his care.

Ancient Woodland

Portglenone Forest is old and mature. An "Ancient Woodland" is the official term. So it's important because of the resulting ecology. Hence the bluebells, wood anemone, and all the other fascinating "indicator species" of wild plants which Darryl showed us. Hey this is the way to stroll though a forest- with your own personal knowledgeable guide.

Open all hours

The forest is open to the public all year round and that's another of its jobs. Recreation. We came across families, joggers, courting couples, photographers and even a bride and groom in all their wedding finery having their photos taken on a wooden rustic bridge. Hmm that dress must have got a little muddy around the hem.

Birds Nest Orchid I mentioned the knowledgeable guide. Well there was no way we could have found the Birds Nest Orchid on our own, but Darryl took us to this rare protected plant quite near a main path but so camouflaged on the forest floor that it was invisible to the casual passer by. And hard to photograph too for the same reason. What a strange plant it is? There are no leaves and it is not green. It lives underground off fungus which has obtained it's nutrients from rotting leaves etc. which in turn it passes it to the roots of this plant. Darryl put it more scientifically as follows:- "... forming a mutually beneficial relationship with fungus that breaks down leaf litter, thus releasing nutrients to the orchid it cannot otherwise obtain." Only when it flowers does it appear above ground and even then all you see are these light brown blooms. I think Darryl said there's only about eight of these Birds Nest Orchids that he was aware of in Portglenone Forest.

Wild Garlic (or Ramsons) ...And the garlic sandwich? During the walk our guide pointed out the masses of wild garlic. He gathered a few leaves and assured me it was safe to eat. Personally I'm wary of chomping through a bowl of unknown forest plant life. But reassured, later that evening it was wild garlic leaves between two slices of bread and butter with a hunk of cheese, and very nice it was too. It tasted of pepper and onions and smelt of garlic.

Uncanny brute

Augustine Henry, the man who guided the reafforestation of Ireland in the early 1900's said of forests.... "Man has been at work destroying the natural forests. The calm way in which man extirpates animals and ruins forests annoys me. Man is an uncanny brute......... A forest is the finest thing in the world: it is the expression of nature in the highest form: it is so full of beauty and of variety"

And here is your homework for this evening. Where does the word 'orchid' come from? I had a surprise when I found the answer.

The leaves of our puzzle tree. (Inch ruler for scale) I'll let you know when we hear from the Forestry people again. But perhaps you already know the answer. Please write in and tell me if you do.

Update.

Well so now we know. I have since been contacted by Mr Michael Lear who is Curator of the National Arboretum at Castlewellan and he tells me the mystery tree is from China and called Sorbus Pluripinnata, which is now called S.Scalaris. Thanks for your help Michael. By the way Michael has also been enthusing to us about their maze at Catlewellan Forest. It is the largest in the world apparently. So that's our next outing.

Forester Darryl Ridge's has sent your place and mine a more detailed history of this Portglenone Forest. Click here to read his contribution.

Want to know about our Ulster Forests? Then visit the Forest Service web site on :- www.forestserviceni.gov.uk