The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - Plants & Flowers
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…
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…
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.
Mistletoe – The Golden Bough
Mistletoe, also known as “the golden bough”, is well known throughout the English- speaking world for its connection to Christmas, in particular to the romantic custom of kissing underneath it.
The National Trust, mushrooms and toadstools
Mushrooms and toadstools are common at this time of year. They are the visible evidence of fungi; the fruiting (spore-producing) bodies of fungi growing in the soil, leaf litter, or bark of trees. Nature’s ‘recycling depot’, bacteria and fungi are essential to the decomposition of plant and animal remains. Many local natural history societies organise fungal forays at this time of year, as do a number of the National Trust properties. Read more…
Courses - Winter 2007
We’re often asked what courses are available. Here are a few we’ve found from now up until the end of the year. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments box below if you know of anything interesting that’s going on, or if you run a course yourself. Read more…
Sloe Gin
After the first frosts is the traditional time for picking your supply of sloes. The fruit is just about ripe now and late October/early November is a good time to pick if you want something to round off your Christmas dinner.
Holly – a fodder crop!
We are familiar with holly (Ilex aquifoloium) as part of Christmas decorations, as a hedging plant, and its many varieties (variegated golden and white forms) as ornamental shrubs, but its use as animal fodder is perhaps less well known.