The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - January 2008
Woodbanks
One of the most interesting things I do for Woodlands.co.uk is visiting large woods in the south east, and considering how and where we should divide them. Very often the woods are surrounded at least partly by woodbanks, which may be straight lines or may to weird and wonderful shapes. These woodbanks are nearly always topped by ancient and gnarled trees, mainly hornbeam, regardless of what is growing in the rest of the wood.
The Woodlands.co.uk Jargon Buster – Pt 2
At woodlands.co.uk we try to avoid using jargon, but if you’ve ever felt bamboozled here’s Part 2 of our “jargon-buster”. This week, a list of commonly-used terms.
The Woodlands.co.uk Jargon Buster – Pt 1
Can you tell your SSSI from your SNCI? People working with woodlands easily fall into using jargon. At woodlands.co.uk we try to steer clear of these terms, but even we find ourselves slipping into jargon sometimes, so here’s Part 1 of our “jargon-buster”, a list of commonly used acronyms with a short explanation.
A review of “Beechcombings” by Richard Mabey
Many readers will know Richard Mabey from his outstanding digest of all things botanical, “Flora Britannica”: my own copy is frequently referred to. “Beechcombings” is very different. Read more…
Christmas Quiz – The Answers!
Well, the holidays are over, everyone is back at work, and it’s raining, but here is what we’ve all been waiting for – the answers to the Woodlands.co.uk Christmas Quiz.
Lichens
At this time of year, woods can seem a bit ‘naked’ and empty. Trees and shrubs have entered into a dormant state in order to survive the rigours of the winter months, their buds await the signals that herald Spring. Many birds will have migrated to warmer climes, some animals will be hibernating, many insects will be spending the winter as eggs or pupae, whilst herbaceous plants will over-winter as seeds, corms or bulbs. However, on the bark of many trees and on the surfaces of fences and walls, there will be lichens – they are there summer, winter, spring and autumn.
Felling a Small Tree
Use this method for trees which have a diameter of less than the effective cutting length of a guide bar of 18″ or less, and which are not heavily leaning. Read more…