Some mountain ash, or rowan as it is also known, have the berries stripped off by pigeons as early as August, soon after the berries have begun to colour and the tree is still in full leaf.

Our Mystery Plant (Mountain ash, Rowan, Sorbus americana) has a close relative in Europe, another species which looks very similar to ours. This species is beautiful all year long.

The blackbird feasts on the berries of the rowan, or mountain ash, tree (MikeLane45/Getty Images/iStockphoto) In Scotland, they were also burnt at Hallowmass, All Saints’ Day, to protect animals.