The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - Conservation
Dormice - Not Mice At All!
These are surprisingly interesting animals which might turn out to live in your woodland. The first surprise is that they are not mice at all, although they are rodents.
There are two sorts of dormice you might come across – the edible dormouse (Glis glis) and the native dormouse Read more…
Plants, Past & Present Part 2
In recent years, the BSBI and the (NERC) Centre for Hydrology and Ecology have been involved in major projects that have mapped our flora.
Plants, past and present - Part 1
The last decade has included some of the warmest years on record. Last year, 2007, was the eighth warmest on record - being exceeded by 1998, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2001. The signs of climate change are not only apparent in these physical measurements of temperature but also through observations of bud burst, first leaves and the arrival of migrant birds (the science of phenology). Such weather change, if it continues, will no doubt impact on the distribution of plants through the UK (and indeed Northern Europe); some species will be winners and other losers. But, how can we recognize / monitor these changes ? Read more…
Climate Change, Carbon and Woods
Just about everyone now believes that climate change is happening, that this is due to an increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, and that we are the main cause. The most important GHG is carbon dioxide and trees have a key role to play because they capture CO2 from the air during photosynthesis and store carbon as they grow. Read more…
Molewatch
The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and Dr Paul Bright (Royal Holloway) have been studying the hedgehog population to see how it is coping with changes in farming practices, urban developments etc. The general conclusion is that the numbers of this mammal are declining – see the woodland blog.
The mole, like the hedgehog, is insectivorous and there is concern about its numbers. It is thought to be one of the most common wildlife mammals in the UK, but we do not really know how many there are, nor where they are!
I’ve Got My Wood! What Now? – Courses for Small Woodland Owners in Hampshire
So you’ve bought your wood. It’s lovely. Well, what now?
When we bought our wood, we wanted to find out more about it. We started to look at the archaeology and history, and to find out what trees and other plants we had. We could then think about how we could manage it to conserve what was good, and to minimise what we didn’t like. Read more…
Oak Decline
You may have seen doom-laden stories in the press recently about “oak decline” (or “oak dieback”) - “the mighty oak battles for survival”. The situation is probably not as serious as reported, but it is a fascinating story.
Helping Hands for Hedgehogs
Hedgehog numbers have declined in recent years, perhaps by as much as 50% in areas such as East Anglia. Though they are not doing well anywhere (with the possible exception of Uist in the Hebrides), there is a suggestion that urban hedgehogs are doing somewhat better than their country cousins. Read more…