The Holly tree is easy to recognise with its distinctive dark green leaves which have sharp spikes protruding at the tips. It is often mixed with hawthorn to make impenetrable hedging.
We are all familiar with images of red-berried holly adorning so much merchandise at Christmas time. Holly can be used to make walking sticks that are interesting to the eye and hard wearing in use.
Holly presents many challenges to the stickmaker, e.g. unpredictable bark, tendency to taper sharply, cross section sometimes oval rather than round, etc.
Notwithstanding these problems, it is well worthwhile persevering with the species as the end result is invariably a stick with charm and character.