AT this time of year when most trees are still bare and lifeless, blackthorn comes into bloom.

It is a most uplifting sight to encounter the first of the blackthorn blossom, as unlike most trees which rely on the wind for pollination, the blackthorn tries to attract the attentions of the first insects to emerge from their winter slumber and hence has copious numbers of large white flowers.

Blackthorn traditionally grows in hedgerows or forms dense scrubby thickets and when in flower this produces a welcome dash of colour which is visible for many miles across the landscape.

After saying this, when blackthorn grows in among other dense scrub its presence is sometimes first detected not by sight, but by scent.

As another aid to attract the scant few insects to emerge at this time of year, the blackthorn blossom produces a sweet heady scent which, on a still day, can be smelled from some distance away.

The main insects all this blossom is aimed at attracting are the bumblebees who, at this time of year, will eargerly seek out nectar from flowers to fuel the production of their nests.

The smell, attractiveness and abundance of this blossom may move you to think about cutting a small bouquet with which to brighten up your home, but be warned - blackthorn has always been considered to be a most unlucky blossom to have and not long after it has been picked the once-sweet scent changes into a stomach-turning reek.

Getting too close to blackthorn also reveals that the tree also has some of the most feared defences of any tree in England.

Each branch is liberally adorned with fearsome-looking thorns which are long (on an old tree these can be up to 5cm in length) and sharp. To my peril, I have discovered these thorns easily penetrate thick jeans and even leather work gloves.

Like the thorns, the wood of the blackthorn is strong, hard and dense. A rod of blackthorn feels more like a metal bar than a wooden stick.

Lots of superstition surrounds blackthorn and it was once believed that the wood was used to make magic wands used by witches and wizards.

These days the wood is still used in one national ceremony. It is a blackthorn rod or stick which is used to knock on the doors at the ceremonial state opening of Parliament each year.

The Black Rod knocks on the doors of the House of Commons for the MPs to enter the House of Lords to hear the monarch's speech.

Blackthorn is also much sought-after by walking-stick makers.

Due to its rarity, straight blackthorne rods which have had honeysuckle tightly bound round them, producing a corkscrew pattern in the wood, are highly prized, with professionally finished sticks being worth hundreds of pounds.