The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - August 2008
Festival of the Tree 2008, Westonbirt Arboretum
Once again it was a pleasure to meet everyone who called in at the Woodlands.co.uk stand at Westonbirt over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Read more…
Sheds in Woodlands
We did a survey on sheds for storage amongst woodland owners and although the sample is small the results were interesting ……
Woodland Birds in Decline?
The latest Breeding Bird Survey for the British Trust for Ornithology in partnership with The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, has highlighted a significant decline in woodland bird species. The annual survey has revealed numbers down by more than 50% in several species, the worst hit being the willow tit down by 77%.
Old Man’s Beard - Clematis vitalba
….or ‘traveller’s joy’ to use another of its many names, is a vigorous climber. As it grows and matures, it forms woody stems as thick as a wrist, and the plant may grow to a height of 40 feet or more.
What is the Forestry Commission and How Does It Affect Woodland Owners?
The Forestry Commission is a government department whose main functions are to manage most of the forestry land owned by the government and to regulate the UK’s privately owned forests and woodlands. It also has a significant research branch headquartered at Alice Holt on the Surrey/Hampshire border. The Commission was set up in 1919 after the First World War with the twin aims of developing a reliable source of timber and creating employment in the forestry sector.
Rowanberry Jelly
The hardy rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia) is found all over the northern hemisphere. It can grow at elevations of up to 1,000 feet, hence its other name, the mountain ash. Found throughout the UK, it is most common in Scotland. Its berries are very popular with birds and it’s quite common to see rowan saplings growing in inaccessible, rocky crevices where bird droppings have fallen.
Pea Sticks and Beanpoles
A by-product of coppicing and thinning, pea sticks and bean poles are an alternative to imported, bamboo canes in the garden or vegetable plot.