The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - June 2006
Ancient and veteran trees
In recent times, the terms veteran tree or ancient tree have come into use. So what is a veteran? Read more…
Coppicing, charcoal and hurdles
Some 90% of the charcoal used in the UK is imported. In terms of CO2 emissions, this is not good news as so much petrol/fossil fuel is used up transporting it to the UK.
So why not use home produced charcoal? This is now possible if your charcoal comes from the Bioregional Charcoal Company (BRCC) or if you are visiting Wakehurst Place in West Sussex, then you can buy their locally made charcoal from the Visitor Centre. Read more…
Hedges and Hedgerows
A hedge becomes a hedgerow when it includes other features within it; such as trees or a wall, fence or gate. At some point (after the last Ice Age), most of the UK was covered with woodland of one form or another. Hedgerows can represent a link with woodlands that have been lost. Hedges often mark out woodland edges even when the woodlands have long since gone. In some parts of the country, hedges and hedgerows are the only natural or non-crop habitat available to mammals, birds, insects and other animals. Read more…
Helping nature…
Climate change will probably mean that the UK will experience warmer, drier summers and stormier, wetter winters more often. These in turn may affect the feeding grounds of birds and other mammals. Obviously, maintaining the diversity of habitats in woodlands can help many species but the same is true of our gardens. Small changes in the way in which we garden Read more…
Badgers, Beeches and Blisters – Getting started in your own wood
A new book about the practicalities of managing your woodland, called Badgers, Beeches and Blisters – Getting started in your own wood has been launched this week. It was written by Professor Julian Evans and sponsored by Woodlands.co.uk. Julian was the Forestry Commission’s Chief Research Officer but he is also the owner of a woodland in Hampshire. This combination of technical knowledge with hands-on Read more…
Can you help with more surveys?
Apart from the bluebell and ladybird surveys, various other learned bodies / organisations are appealing for help in recording certain insects. For example, the British Dragonfly Society Biological Records Centre would like people to look out for a damselfly called the banded demoiselle.
The adult banded demoiselle may be found flying (between May and September) near rivers, canals and streams with abundant waterside vegetation. Read more…
Lethal ladybirds?
There are presently some 46 species of ladybirds found in the UK. For an excellent sheet on identifying the most common species, click here.
However, some of these species may now be under threat due to the arrival of the Harlequin Ladybird. This was introduced to the United States in 1988 and now is the most widespread ladybird there. A single female can lay a thousand eggs. To learn how to identify this new arrival click Read more…