The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - November 2008
A Glossary of Tree Terms by The Royal Forestry Society
A new and very useful publication is now available from the Royal Forestry Society. “A Glossary of Tree Terms” is an essential reference guide to the terminology of forestry and woodland management, from “acidification” to “yield class”. Read more…
Mast and Mast Years
Mast is the ‘nut crop’ of the beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), but, in a broader sense, is the production of an enormous number of seeds. And the phenomenon is not restricted to beeches. It can also been seen in oaks, firs, spruces and pines. Such species are said to have ‘mast years’ and in such years it is basically impossible for animals to eat all the seeds (“predator satiation”) so many seeds survive to the following spring and germinate. Read more…
Off-Road Horse Riding Through Woodlands
If you have your own woodland you can use its tracks for riding a horse or pony, but most riders also want to go further afield. And, of course, most people don’t have their own wood. Riding on roads can be dangerous and is, anyway, less enjoyable than riding on car-free tracks, so there have been various schemes developed to enable more off-road riding. Read more…
Horse Logging
Jo Ambrose, horse logger, gives a fascinating interview on her work and her horses to Woodlands TV. Read more…
Wood Fuel
Mike Pepler works for the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy and also owns some woodland near Rye, East Sussex, which he manages with his wife Tracy.
Using wood for heating
According to government figures (from BERR), heating buildings and water uses about one third of all energy (including transport) in the UK. Much of this energy is supplied by fossil fuels, and so is resulting in large amounts of carbon dioxide being emitted, contributing to climate change. Read more…
Honey Fungus
The honey fungus (Armillaria) is one of the most widespread pathogens, and is found across the globe. There are a number of related species of Armillaria that parasitise the roots and trunks of a wide variety of trees; they can also feed saprophytically on the dead remains of the trees. Such dead stumps and infected tissues may act as a base for further infection. Read more…
Woodland Machines Pt 1 – The Quad Bike
The development of the quad bike or All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) has revolutionised farm and forest transport in the more remote areas of the UK. They are often seen in the distance travelling across fields and up hillsides complete with sheepdog on the back to tend distant flocks. They must be good if the Royal Mail use them! Read more…
Pole Lathe Turning
If you’ve ever wanted to see a demonstration of pole-lathe turning you can see a good one on www.woodlandstv.co.uk. Read more…