PLANT of the week Corylus avellana

A hazel bedecked with golden-yellow catkins is an uplifting sight in January and February. The long flowering spikes, known as lambs’ tails, hang decoratively from bare branches. These are the male flowers but it is the tiny bud like female flowers that will develop into hazelnuts.

Native to the UK, hazel has been used for centuries for coppicing – the practice of cutting the stems down to the base, allowing new shoots to grow which can then be cropped. It supports wildlife such as nesting birds, food for moths, and nuts for squirrels and dormice. Corylus ‘Contorta’ is the corkscrew hazel which was discovered as a natural mutation in an English hedgerow in the 19th century. Its wonderfully twisted stems make a beautiful sculptural winter display and is much prized by florists for its unusual appearance.

EXETER CHIEFS suffered a controversial Premiership defeat after Joe Simmonds failed to take a last-minute conversion.

Sam Skinner scored late on but Simmonds’ kick to win the game didn’t happen.

Fly-half Simmonds (below) was ruled to have started his run-up — allowing NORTHAMPTON to sprint from their line and kick the ball from the tee into touch to clinch a 13-12 win.

Referee Christophe

Ridley ruled he had begun his run-up with a movement of his shoulder and Chiefs boss Rob Baxter said: “No complaints. We have no criticism of it.”

LEICESTER beat WASPS 27-8 in a game in which three men were sent off.

Tigers’ South African pair Jasper Wiese and Hanro Liebenberg saw reds in each half with Kieran Brookes dismissed in-between.

In-form HARLEQUINS beat SALE 24-12. Joe Marchant crossed twice before Alex Dombrandt went over as Quins moved up to third.