Ilex aquifolium | holly
Understanding the wildlife value of this winter stalwart
Somewhat unfairly, I’ve had a love hate relationship with holly over the years. I’ve always loved seeing the red berries and their association with this time of year as we approach the winter solstice on the 21 December. And I love the shape of each individual leaf. But I’ve never really liked the look of the overall tree, with its dark shiny, curled and spiky leaves.
The shape of the stems and branches, the way they fire out all over the place, can look rangy and odd, while those spiky leaves are a literal pain in the bum, or more often, hands. Those shiny-muted green leaves remind me of dull, smelly, uncomfortable Barbour jackets and Landrovers, a feeling I associate with cold mud and an out-of-touch elite of people who hunt foxes and pheasants for fun (don’t worry if you own a Barbour jacket or Landrover, I’m not tarring everyone wit…