Sycamore

The sycamore is a type of maple tree that is believed to have been introduced into the UK by the Romans. They can grow to a height of thirty five metres, and live for up to four hundred years.

They can be identified by their broad leaves which have five lobes, and winged seed pods called samaras. The leaves are bright green in the spring and summer, turning bright red, orange and yellow in the autumn. Sycamore trees attract aphids, and in turn, aphid-eating predators such as ladybirds. Leaves are eaten by caterpillars, and the flowers provide pollen for bees and other flying insects. The seeds are a good source of food for birds and small mammals.

The wood of the sycamore is hard, strong and fine grained. It is good for carving, particularly kitchenware items like ladles and wooden spoons. In Wales, sycamore wood was used in the traditional craft of making "love spoons", which were decoratively carved spoons given as a romantic gesture.

The inner bark is considered to have medicinal qualities. Tea, made using the inner bark has been used to treat coughs and colds, lung ailments, measles and dysentery. The bark also has emetic and laxative effects.

In some cultures, the sycamore tree symbolizes strength, protection, eternity, and divinity. In the bible, the sycamore tree appears several times in the New Testament, but the main interpretation of what it stands for comes from the story of Zacchaeus which can be found in Luke 19.4. In this biblical excerpt, Zacchaeus is a wealthy collector in Jericho. One day, Jesus passes through the city, and Zacchaeus can't see him because he was short in stature and the crowd is obstructing his view. So, he climbs a sycamore tree where he's finally able to capture a glimpse of Jesus.

Because of this story, the sycamore has become a symbol of clarity. Without the sycamore, Zacchaeus wouldn't have been able to see Jesus, so for Christians, it's a symbol of a place in their own lives where they're able to have a clear vision of their saviour.