The Woodlands.co.uk Blog
Butterflies and Woodlands
Butterfly Conservation has just launched a £900,000 conservation scheme to encourage better woodland management for butterflies in the South-East.
Buttercups, Old and New - Ancient Meadows
Already some buttercups are in flower. They may be found in fields, pastures, hedgerows meadows, and of course, lawns and gardens! The early flowers are often those of the bulbous buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus). These may be distinguished from those of the meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) by looking at the way the green sepals are arranged beneath the flower. In the meadow buttercup, they lie against the flower, whereas those of the bulbous buttercup are said to be “reflexed” – the sepals hang down. Read more…
Estimating the Age of a Tree - Counting Rings
When a tree has been cut down or felled, then it is relatively easy to work out its age by counting the growth or annual rings that can be seen on the sawn-off stump.
BirdTrack – Recording Bird Migration and Population Patterns
Watching the swifts swooping around in this week’s blue skies reminded me of the BirdTrack (originally Migration Watch) online recording scheme. BirdTrack, run in conjunction by the British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland, tracks migration patterns and distribution of species in Britain and Ireland. Read more…
Elder (Sambucus nigra) - Elder Lore and Elderflower Recipes
The elder is a small but bountiful tree that usually grows on the woodland edge. The tree has an abundance of history and folklore surrounding it and was long regarded as sacred, protected by the elder-mother who resided in its trunk.
Some Common Botanical Terms
Arboretum
An area where woody plants (trees and shrubs) are grown for scientific/ educational purpose, for example, Westonbirt, the National Arboretum near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.
Pond and Stream Dipping - Underwater Minibeasts
Do We Need Any Special Equipment For Pond Dipping?
No, everything you’ll need you’ll probably find around the house:
Floor to Ceiling - The “layers” of a woodland
A brief explanation of the different layers of woodland.