COTONEASTER

Half a century ago , with its fan-like sprays of stiff herringbone branches and shining red berries, graced the low wall beneath the bay window at the front of our house – as it did in most of the gardens along the road. For no effort it reliably produced its bright autumn display as the leaves turned red before falling. I remember it buzzing with bees in May and its somewhat surreal silhouette in winter. No one considered that it was an excellent source of food for wildlife, or its ability to seed. Seedlings were given by neighbours or otherwise acquired and the palette of species