Today is May Day! Did you know hawthorn has ancient ties with May Day? Known as the May tree, hawthorn is the only British tree to be named after the month in which it blooms. Although the tree now flowers around the middle of the month, it flowered much nearer the beginning of the month before the introduction of the Gregorian calendar. Maypoles were traditionally made from its wood and its leaves and flowers were used in garlands. Going 'a maying' was a happy custom where people would gather t