An alder carr is a particular type of
carr, i.e. waterlogged wooded terrain populated with
alder trees. They can be found across the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, sometimes attracting
Ash trees should they become drier.
Many have developed alongside streams in the
New Forest
The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, featu ...
, where the Alder's capacity to thrive in a water logged environment allows them to become the dominant species of tree in these areas. The presence of particular bacteria,
Frankia alni, enables their root systems to extract
nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a Nonmetal (chemistry), nonmetal and the lightest member of pnictogen, group 15 of the periodic table, often called the Pnictogen, pnictogens. ...
from the air, thus making up for the lack of nitrogen in waterlogged soil.
Alder carrs have often been
coppice
Coppicing is the traditional method in woodland management of cutting down a tree to a tree stump, stump, which in many species encourages new Shoot (botany), shoots to grow from the stump or roots, thus ultimately regrowing the tree. A forest ...
d, whereby cutting away growth at ground level encourages new trunks to grow at ground level. This means the wood can be repeatedly harvested.
This wood can then be used to make water pipes, wooden pumps, as well as piles under bridges. Other uses have included charcoal for making gun powder, and filters for
gas mask
A gas mask is a piece of personal protective equipment used to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft ...
s.
Examples
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Alder Carr, Hildersham
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Alderfen Broad
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Fawley Ford on the Beaulieu River
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Biebrza National Park
Biebrza National Park () is a national park in Podlaskie Voivodeship, northeastern Poland, along the Biebrza River.
The largest of Poland's 23 national parks, the Biebrza National Park was created on 9 September 1993. Its total area is , of whi ...
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Blackwater Valley
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Deadwater Valley
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Fen Alder Carr
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Fleet Pond
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Harston Wood
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Herbert Plantation
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Holywells Park, Ipswich: Pond 5 is known as Alder Carr and is a
biodiversity action plan habitat.
Historically there was another Alder Carr in the
Cobbold family
The Cobbold family became influential in Ipswich and Suffolk in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The family is best known for brewing, moving its operations from Harwich to Ipswich in 1746, and as the driving force behind Ipswich Town Footb ...
estate in what is now the northern edge of the
Landseer Park
Landseer Park is a large open green space north of Landseer Road, in the eastern suburbs of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It is home to the Ipswich BMX Club. National Cycle Route 51 passes through the park. It is designated a County Wildlife Site.
...
.
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Jackson's Coppice and Marsh
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Liss Riverside Railway Walk North
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Loynton Moss
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The Moors, Bishop's Waltham
The Moors, Bishop's Waltham is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review and an area of is a Local Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by Hampshire County Counci ...
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Newbourne Springs
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Tadburn Meadows
Gallery
Alder Carr 2.jpg, Alder Carr, Hildersham
Swampy alder carr in Alderfen Broad Nature Reserve, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 310689.jpg, Alderfen Broad Nature Reserve
Image:Alder trees beaulieu river fawley ford.jpg, Alder trees in the Beailieu River, north of Fawley Ford
Alder carr 01(js), Biebrza National Park (Poland).jpg, Biebrza National Park
Ducks-holywells-park.jpg, Ducks enjoying Alder Carr, in Holywells Park
References
{{reflist
Landforms
Wetlands