Some little facts about our beautiful native Field Maple Acer campestre.
Field maple leaves
Acer means ‘sharp’ and is from the family Aceraceae now moved to the Sapindaceae family of trees and shrubs in the northern hemisphere, containing 150 species, all but two are maples. campestre meaning plain or field dwelling also Known as the Malpin tree in Gloucestershire.
Maples left to right, Sycamore, Norway and Field
Field Maple is one of the warmer climate trees and so one of last species (with Hornbeam) to colonise Britain after the last ice age, ten thousand years ago. During the Anglo-Saxon period (410 to 1066) maple was the general trees of hedges, farmland and watercourses. Maple (or Dogwood) which are rare colonisers and were rarely planted, but if found in the hedgerow being fourth or fifth species in, it can indicate a hedge from the Tudor period. (1485 to 1603) It is not very good for stock proofing on its own, but even though it is hard and brittle it can be laid successfully in a hedge. It has also been grown in copses with hazel for firewood, which produce giant coppiced stools.
Autumn leaf and bud
A tough pale wood is available if in small sections, with rippled fine grain and lovely veins used mainly for fine quality or turned work. It has a history in making fine musical instruments from harps to violins. Such as small parts of the lyre, a small handheld harp from the 7th century, which was unearthed at Sutton Hoo, an early Anglo-Saxon settlement in Suffolk. In other examples it was used to form the backs, sides, bridge and neck of violins, the finest example being the Stradivarius. It is said to owe its superior sound quality, for which it is universally accepted has not been surpassed in over 300 years, to the density of the wood. This was concluded after several high-end violins were tested under CT scanner. In 2006, Christie's auctioned one for £1.75M.
Field maple can also be worked very thinly producing fine veneers for furniture and the twisted knotted roots are valued by quality cabinetmakers for small details. It is hard to get hold of commercially in any quantity today, although it is still favoured by cabinet makers when available.
Maple leaves were once layered in-between stored apples, carrots and potatoes to help preserve them over winter. The seeds are bitter but edible after boiling. The bark has astringent qualities which was once used to sooth sore eyes.
Field Maple leaves and seed
Some folklore reveals a tradition in Devon of passing children through the branches of the field maple for varying benefits from ensuring a long life. In Sussex it was used as protection from the evil eye, or more specifically, curing rickets.
Field Maple leaves fallen on a tarp