The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - May 2010
Survival !
Why in the world would we pay to go and camp in a woodland with absolutely no facilities? Because it is a Wilderness Weekend course, run by Landrock Survival Training and it is a brilliant course! Read more…
Surveys and photography
Would you like to take part in a new Water Survey ?
Buglife, University College, London and other partners have developed a new water survey – part of the OPAL project (The Open Air Laboratories network). Read more…
Are watermills economically viable and could they work in woodlands?
Each year an enterprising group of mill owners organises a tour of watermills in South Somerset on a Saturday in February and again in the autumn. I was lucky enough to be invited to go on this hydropower tour a couple of months ago, though you can organise to join it through Brian Shingler who can be contacted through www.gantsmill.co.uk. Read more…
International Day for Biological Diversity – 22nd May 2010
The United Nations declared that today, May 22nd, is The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The aim of the day is to help increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Sadly, today’s papers are scarcely packed with banner headlines on biodiversity issues. Read more…
Greenfinches
Greenfinches, parasites, heat islands and the BTO nesting survey.
Greenfinches are being killed by a protozoan parasite – Trichomonas. The parasite causes swelling of the throat by infecting the crop and gullet, so the the birds cannot eat. It has been suggested that as many as 500,000 greenfinches have been killed by this parasite. Read more…
Butterflies in peril
Generally speaking, the sight of butterflies marks the return of spring sunshine and the warmth associated with long summer days. However, after three wet summers in a row, some of our rarest butterflies are under threat. The summers of 2007 and 2008 were characterised by very wet weather, and July and August last year were marked by above average rainfall. Butterflies that have been particularly affected by the wet weather are the :- Read more…
Nightingales
Nightingales are migratory birds and fly into the U.K. in the Spring, having spent the winter in Africa. The nightingale is particularly well known for its song; (a wma file of which can be found here). However, not everybody in the UK is likely to hear them singing. It is not found in Scotland or Wales, and in other places its numbers have fallen quite dramatically. It is now mainly found in the South-East, especially Kent, Sussex, Suffolk and Norfolk. A sighting is unlikely; nightingales are shy, drab brown birds who seek the dense vegetation described below. Read more…
Courses
There are many courses that might interest the ‘woodlander’, so those listed below are just a small collection of those available. It is worth keeping an eye on websites such Woodnet (http://www.woodnet.org.uk/woodlots/courses-and-training ) who offer a number of courses on chainsaw maintenance, felling, charcoal making etc, The Small Woodland Owners Group (http://www.swog.org.uk/ ) and The Small Woods Association Magazine. Read more…