Witches’ brooms

Nidderdale Moorland Group

With the leaves now fallen and trees standing bare it is a great time of year to spot old nests or squirrel drey's high in the tree tops, but all might not be as it seems.

Witches' brooms look like birds nests hanging from the branches of trees, mainly Birch trees but also on some other species.

Witches' broom is a gall caused by various organisms which start off as densely packed clusters of buds which eventually grow into tightly packed slender shoots.

Brooms can grow to over a metre wide and now is a great time to spot them.