The Hawthorn is a tree, which can grow up to 14 meters tall, but is most often use to make field hedges, because of its fast growth, and its ability to make a thick thorny animal proof barrier.
Its use as a hedge material gained it the name 'quickthorn' when use by the enclosure movement in past centuries.

The fruit shown below, which are called 'haws' and are rich in vitamin C, and form a valuable food for birds during the Autumn and Winter.



They were also used as  amunition for pea shooters, by small boys.