New spindle trees planted at Cowm Reservoir

Sue Neilson, Steve Haigh and Sheila Dearden from Whitworth in Bloom with United Utilities staff Dan Crook, Terry Warburton and Darren Mitchell

Four spindle trees have been planted at Cowm Reservoir in Whitworth, replacing two which were accidentally felled last year.

The original spindles (Euonymus europaeus) were felled when United Utilities’ staff were working to uncover the Yorkshire stone footpath alongside the bridleway.

When local resident, Sue Neilson reported this to the United Utilities’ manager, Dan Crolla, he agreed to replace the spindles as soon as possible.

Four spindles have now been planted to protect and enhance the natural environment at Cowm Reservoir. The saplings were planted by United Utilities’ Catchment Controllers, Dan Crook, Terry Warburton and Darren Mitchell, with members of the Whitworth in Bloom group: Sue Neilson, Steve Haigh and Sheila Dearden.

Spindles are a sign of ancient woodlands - rare and special habitats, renowned for boosting biodiversity. Spindles are hermaphrodites, growing to about 9m and producing tiny white flowers with four petals in May and June, which are pollen-rich for insects. Aphids love to feed on the leaves, attracting a number of their predators to the area too.

In autumn, spindles produce striking pink fruits with peanut-shaped orange berries at the centre, which wildlife - including mice, foxes and birds – love to eat, although spindle leaves and fruit are toxic to humans.

Spindles produce a fine-grained wood, used to make skewers, toothpicks, knitting needles and spindles – hence the tree’s common name. Baked and powdered, the fruits have treated head lice and mange in animals.

Today, spindles are used to produce high quality artists’ charcoal.