Valleys of blossom
IN SPRING, THE countryside in the southern Lake District turns white with drifts of blossom from the damson trees that abound in Cumbria’s Lyth and Winster Valleys. For centuries this area, between Kendal to the east and Windermere to the west, has been famed for these trees. Damsons have been grown in what was the county of Westmorland since the early 1700s, if not earlier. Today, visitors flock there to marvel at the remarkable displays of annual blossom. Set among the imposing grandeur of the Lakeland fells, wild trees abound in the hedgerows, while old orchards surround the cottages and farmsteads. They thrive on the thin calcareous soils in the mild, damp climate. Sheep, with their newborn lambs gambolling about them, crop the old greensward beneath the sweet-scented damson flowers.
Early flowering
The damson, Prunus domestica subsp. insititia, probably originated from a crossing of the cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera, and blackthorn, Prunus spinosa. Its single white flowers appear on the bare branches in April. They are
Mists of white shroud an area of south Cumbria as its damson trees burst into blossom
approximately 1in (2.5cm) across, borne on ¾in (2cm) stems. These delicate blossoms are an early source of nectar for bees, the tree’s main pollinators. Damsons are self-fertilising, however, so isolated trees still fruit well, as long as there are pollinators. In close succession to the flowers, the elliptical or oval, finely toothed leaves emerge. These have a sharp point and are usually 2-4in (5-10cm) in length. The bark on young trees tends to be reddish brown or even slightly purple with horizontal striations. It becomes dark grey-brown and fissured as the tree reaches approximately 20 years. Some trees, particularly young suckers, may have long thorns
on the main stem. This is redolent of the ancient parentage of blackthorn. The trees develop slightly sinuous trunks, with the lower branches dying back in the shade of the upper crown. Shape is variable, depending on whether the tree is growing in the open or confined in a hedgerow. Trees in dense hedges tend to grow upwards rather than outwards. Those in the open have more of a spreading nature with larger, lower boughs. They live for between 70-80 years, although long before this suckers start to push up from their root system. These can appear up to 20ft (6m) from the main trunk, showing how extensive the root system is. Sending up suckers is an effective mode of regeneration, creating several clones to maintain the line. Old trees are extremely brittle with boughs splitting off under the heavy weight of snow or in high winds. This is particularly the case if the tree is infested with ivy, which acts as a wind sail.
Fruits and varieties
The fruits are small blue-black skinned plums, 11/2in (4cm) long, with green flesh and a tart flavour. There are approximately 20 British varieties. The exact number is unknown as a variety may have its own regional name in different areas. The Westmorland damson is an example of this, being the same variety as the prune damson, Cheshire damson and Shropshire damson or prune. Identity is further confused by hundreds of years of hybridising. In 2007, an extremely rare variety, ‘Blue Violet’, was identified in the Lakeland village of Crosthwaite. This damson ripens early and is slightly larger than usual, with a very distinct violet bloom to the skin. Sweeter than other varieties, the ripe fruit drops easily from the tree when shaken, making harvesting easier. It is believed to date back 200 years. Today there are only five known surviving trees. The normal method of harvesting is to either climb the trees or use ladders to reach the fruit. The quantity of fruit is dependent on whether or not late frosts nip the flowers. Damsons have always been harvested but in the 1930s, transport improved sufficiently to get the fruit to market quickly and efficiently. In this decade, approximately 200 tons of damsons were sold annually in Westmorland. Most went to jam factories in Lancashire. In 1938 the Westmorland Damson Growers Association (WDGA) was formed to boost the fortunes of the damson industry. As part of this, it built a small canning plant and its own jam factory. The onset of the Second World War, however, deprived the area of workers as well as severely rationing the availability of sugar. The venture failed and for the next 60 years agricultural and cultural interest in damsons slowly dwindled. The orchards were neglected and many trees lost. Then in 1996, a small group of enthusiasts formed the Westmorland Damson Association (WDA) to ‘enhance the economy
and landscape of traditional damson growing areas in Cumbria by supporting the growing, picking and use of Westmorland damsons’. With this aim, it established an annual Damson Day, held every April to coincide with the flowering of the trees. Up to 3,000 people attend, celebrating this beautiful tree and the produce that can be created from its fruit.
“Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons, And made me climb, with danger of my life.” William Shakespeare, ‘Henry VI Part 2’