3 weeks ago
21
Have you ever noticed that ivy eventually takes over everything? All up the trees. All over the floor. In the winter, it makes the grey trees look full of life again. It comes in different shapes, different colours, but it all does the same thing: takes over the woodland. The vines snake along the ground, taking everything in their path.
This all came to my attention during a frosty walk through my local woods with my family. All the puddles had frozen over and my little brother and I had fun smashing the ice to see who could pick up the biggest bit (I did because mine was massive!)
As ivy is the one of last flowering plants, it brightens the place up a lot. It’s really useful for lots of things in winter – a source of calories for thrushes and wood pigeons and a nesting place for wrens and robins. We saw a robin hopping about in the ivy on our walk. It’s also food for caterpillars like the swallow-tailed moth and holly blue butterfly. Roe deer enjoy eating its berries too.
Did you know that in ancient Greece, newlyweds wore ivy wreathes to show loyalty and devotion to one another? Ivy symbolises fidelity and eternal life. This is because once ivy is attached to something, it is hard to make it let go and because the plant is evergreen.
I’ve also learned that the scientific name for ivy is Hedera, and that there are more than 12 species of ivy, although I think I only saw two on our trip in the woods. I really enjoyed our walk and learning more about ivy, because it’s something I’d never given more than a second glance to before, but it is really interesting and beautiful!
Read today’s other YCD piece, by Etta, 12: ‘A sky full of geese is an awe-inspiring sight’
