Askefruer

Askefruer ("Ash-Maidens"), female tree-spirits and -guardians (or a northern version of the greek Hamadryads).

The old norse culture was very connected to the nature. They were very conscious about the natural things around them, they respected and honoured them. Therefor it's very easy to understand why they thought that the trees had these mysterious inhabitants. Over and above that, the ash-tree had an important role in norse mythology: it was the wolrd-tree, which connected the nine worlds; and the first man, Askr, was made out of an Ash.

There's strong believe that the 'Askefruer' are a fiction of Dr. Anthony E. Smith (Encyclopedia Mythica). I didn't found these maidens in any norse myth, but it's a good idea :).

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