Woodlands and hedgerows are important features of our countryside.  Just as woodlands vary across the country, so do hedgerows.  A hedgerow usually includes a number of tree and shrub species, but may also include walls, banks, fencing and gates.  They may have been planted recently or may be ancient, dating back to the time of the enclosures. It has been estimated that there are over half a million kilometres of hedgerow across England, and the majority are actively managed.  In a managed hedgerow, the trees and shrubs have their form and shape altered.   The trees and shrubs that form the basics of a hedgerow include hawthorn, hazel, oak, holly, blackthorn, ash and yew. These may form the main body of the hedge but there are many other plants that contribute to its structure, such as bramble, honeysuckle and ivy, many wild flowers plus mosses, bryophytes, fungi and lichens.  [In urban settings, species like  privet, yew, box and holly may form the basis of the hedge / hedgerow.] [caption id="attachment_42838" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Beech hedge in garden[/caption] Consequently, hedges come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can include many different species. Rural hedges are often a mix of shrub and tree species, such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, ash and oak. They were / are often planted to form boundaries around fields in managed agricultural landscapes.  Historically, many hedgerows were planted to keep livestock, such as sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens in specific areas. Other hedgerows were planted to define boundaries as in ‘who owned which bit of land’.  Hedgerows often surround fields.   The word ‘field’ comes from Old English ‘feld’, meaning 'an area of felled trees  or open country'.  Hedgerows are important as they offer habitats / niches for a variety of plants and animals. Not only do they provide ‘food and lodgings’ for many animals, they also act as biological corridors, supporting plant and animal connectivity across our landscape.  The flowers, fruits, berries and nuts are an important source of food for many invertebrates, birds and mammals. [caption id="attachment_24651" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sloes on Blackthorn[/caption] Animals such the harvest mouse, the hedgehog and the vole may be found nesting in a hedgerow, and it offers food and / or homes for blue tits, and yellowhammers. They also support important insect pollinators, butterflies, hover flies, moths, bumblebees and bees. These insects may help with the pollination of crops in adjacent fields planted with oilseed rape, legumes or fruit trees. Other insects, such as ladybirds can help with crop yields by predating upon crop pests, such as green fly and blackfly (these aphids may spread viral diseases on crops such as sugar beet).  Sadly, hedgerows declined significantly in the last century, due mainly to intensification of agriculture. Fortunately, the destruction / loss has slowed since the 1990’s, though neglect and damage are significant threats even today.  Good management may involve planting of trees or shrubs to fill gaps, coppicing, laying a hedge or ‘considered’ cutting back.  However, there is no standardisation of the management of hedgerows and they can be harmed by excessive cutting back or flailing.   The effects of heavy pruning and cutting back during the nesting season can be disastrous. Whilst mechanical flailing of a hedgerow is fast and effective,  the regrowth is generally slower and its effects can be particularly bad for birds. [They may abandon their nests and / or  their eggs or chicks may be destroyed.] The pruning / flailing may also affect insect populations of the hedgerow (and / or other other food sources) on which the birds and other animals depend.  Another threat can be the use of agricultural chemicals [pesticides and herbicides] next to the hedgerow. [caption id="attachment_42843" align="aligncenter" width="675"] A managed hedge[/caption] For further and detailed information on hedgerows, visit : https://hedgelink.org.uk/guidance/importance-of-hedgerows/  

Woodlands.co.uk has said on many occasions that our country has been ‘denuded’ of its natural vegetation.  Woodlands, meadows, grasslands, and wetlands have been lost,  and the range of many species has been reduced. Efforts are being made to restore some of these ecosystems.  However, it is not an easy or simple process.  Throwing some seeds on degraded ecosystems / soils simply will not work.  Seeds have requirements if they are to germinate.  For example, some seeds to experience a period of cold before they will germinate, others need exposure to light of a particular wavelength (to activate the phytochrome system). Such needs must be set against a changing climate where warmer winters and drier summers (like last year) are expected to become more common.  Seeds collected from one area of the country may have adapted to specific local conditions, so if sown 500 miles away - they may not fare so well. To test whether some of our native species could cope with ‘new’ places and changing temperatures, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew and Wakehurst) made use of the seed collection at the Millennium Seed Bank.  The seed collection at Wakehurst is diverse, with many samples of various species collected from different places at different times. Different samples would be expected to have slightly different genetic backgrounds. The researchers selected six species from the Millennium collections: Yarrow Common knapweed Wild carrot Ox-eye daisy Yellow rattle Autumn hawkbit [Seeds of these species are often included in commercially available wildflower seed mixtures used to create wild flower areas in gardens etc. Some of these mixtures may include seeds imported from Europe or elsewhere.]  To test the temperature tolerance of the various seeds samples and whether the different genetic backgrounds affected their germination, the seed samples were exposed to temperatures ranging from 0oC to 40oC.   The researchers then recorded the minimum, optimum and maximum temperatures for seed germination of each species.  These figures were then compared with historical records of climate, and temperature projections in our changing world.  The results indicate that  various species would be able to germinate in a warming climate.   Of the six species, four were able to germinate across a range of temperatures, namely yarrow, knapweed, ox-eye daisy and autumn hawkbit. This suggests that they would cope with a warming climate (and would be suitable species for use in restoration projects). Yarrow and ox eye daisy showed good germination at varying temperatures independent on their local provenance, and are therefore good candidates when sowing in restoration areas. However, wild carrot and yellow rattle were not as ‘straight forward’.  Carrot seeds need to experience a cold period before they will germinate, so milder winters might be a problem.  Yellow rattle only germinated within a small range of low temperatures (like those of late winter).  Whilst this means, a young plant can have an early start and an advantage over its competitors, it suggests that if winters become too mild then its germination and life cycle will be affected. This ‘sensitivity’ was true across the different samples of yellow rattle used in this trial. Interestingly, yellow rattle is an obligate hemiparasitic annual.  It is of particular interest for restoration projects as it helps in the establishment of species-rich meadows. For further details of this study, go to https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.70239

The establishment and management of orchards in the UK probably started in Roman times.  The organised growing of apples, pears, plums and cherries developed during the 1st to 4th centuries of the CE.  However, with the withdrawal of the Romans, the management of many orchards declined, though it was maintained in some monasteries. These orchards offered such communities stored / preserved fruit, ‘medicines’ and cider.  Later during the medieval period, orchards were often present in manor houses, outside of villages, monasteries and other community settings.  Most of the orchards grew apples and pears, though cherries, plums / damsons were also grown.   Moving on to Tudor and Stuart times, these were good times for orchard and fruit expansion in general.  A wider range of varieties became available, pruning and grafting techniques improved, as did the layout of trees within orchards.  Books were written on fruit and orchard cultivation by people like John Gerard and John Evelyn (his contribution on fruit trees appeared in the appendix of ‘Sylva’ - entitled Pomona); so good practice spread.  Some orchards were part of a mixed use landscape, where grazing animals wandered between the trees.  Such orchards are sometimes referred to as ‘heritage orchards’, in contrast to more modern techniques of orchard management.  Further changes took place in the 18th and 19th centuries which saw the introduction of many varieties of fruit e.g. Kentish Cherries and Herefordshire Apples. At this time orchards reached their greatest coverage in our landscape. However, the 20th century saw a sharp decline in the maintenance and number of orchards.  The decline was due to a number of factors : Traditional orchards are long lived but require regular management Two world wars - these encouraged the use of land for increased food production / arable crops.   Urban expansion and increased need for housing and transport networks resulted in the loss of many city and village orchards Cheaper imports of fruits Subsidies and grants supported the removal orchards. Also, some  orchards survived but heritage / traditional orchards with tall, widely spaced trees were grubbed up and replaced with low stemmed, high density planting. These trees bear fruit after a shorter period of time and the collection of the fruit can be done mechanically.  Sadly, such trees support less wildlife. Beers and lagers replaced cider as a traditional drink, traditionally it was supplied to farmworkers / labourers. Supermarkets wanted fruit that was unblemished with a long shelf life. Plus, the demand for certain apple varieties (e.g cooking apples) fell. Now, orchards are recognised as valuable habitats and community orchards are being re-established.  A community orchard is a shared space, which support fruit and nut trees.  The trees grown include apple, pear, cherry, plum, walnut and hazelnut. Sometimes there is an understory of soft fruits, various herbs and plants which support pollinators of the trees. The community orchards are normally looked after by local people or organisations and ‘managed’ by local groups such as ‘not for profit’ organisations, the local council or a specific neighbourhood group. The orchards are usually open access / semi public, with the harvests shared with the volunteers and the local community, providing fresh local food.   The harvesting of the fruit, nuts and sometimes vegetables varies from ‘pick what you need’ to ‘an organised distribution’ to ‘local food banks’ and ‘community kitchens’.  To find out more about community orchards and if there is one near you - visit the Orchard Network at the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species.

Biodiversity after the Black Death. The plague or black death swept across Europe and the UK (from 1347 - 1353, resulting in millions of deaths.  Some studies suggest that it killed between a third and half of the population.  As a result, there was a much reduced workforce, villages were deserted, farmland was abandoned, traditional land and woodland management fell by the wayside.  It was suggested that all of this lead to a significant rewilding event and an increase in biodiversity - both plant and animal. However, an analysis at York University of fossil pollen studies across Europe suggests a 'different story’.  Plant diversity did not increase after the plague, in fact it fell. Plant diversity fell for the next 150 years.  This suggests that some plant species depend on the human disturbance within the various ecosystems (farming, grazing, woodland management, all help seed dispersal etc).  However, mediaeval practices were far gentler than today’s mechanised, industrial scale farming and the clear cut felling of woodlands. Ploughs were pulled by oxen or hand, woodlands were managed by coppicing etc.  So reducing human activity does not always lead to a 'rebound of nature’. The contribution of small woodlands. Over the centuries, our woodlands and forests have been ‘decimated’.  Our woodland / forest cover has been reduced to a small percentage of what it was by farming, felling, building of transport networks and the expansion of towns and cities.  Consequently, there now exist many small patches of woodland in an an agricultural landscape. These ‘islands’ differ in size, degree of isolation, and age. It would be easy to dismiss such ‘islands’ are being of no importance.  However, recent studies suggest that they can make a significant contribution to the biodiversity of the landscape, partly through the ‘edge effect’. The edges of woodlands are exposed to the surrounding environment. Consequently, they receive more sunlight and often nutrients from the surrounding agricultural land.  They are generally richer in species like brambles, hawthorn, willow, offering food for deer, butterflies and other species.  They may also store more carbon in the topsoil than older woodlands - acting as carbon sinks.  As the edges of these woodlands tend to be drier and hotter than woodland itself, there is a lower risk of tick borne disease as fewer tick larvae survive under such conditions.  They are therefore making a significant contribution to diversity and ecosystem services in an agricultural landscape. Such small and often isolated woodlands need to be managed. so they do not become overrun by ivy and bracken if they are to contribute to the diversity of the landscape. A singular advantage of owning a woodland with an edge is that it may offer a good view of the surrounding landscape, which one might sit and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_43124" align="aligncenter" width="675"] View from a scottish woodland[/caption] For further information about the edge effect see  Julian Evans' video on woodlandTV at YouTube : [embed]https://youtu.be/D2buIXiz1sk?si=zhsUiter2pjvyZAv[/embed]

   My name is Katy and I have been in childcare all my working life.   I qualified as a Nursery Nurse in 1986, working in inner city State Nursery schools in St Anns, Nottingham; before becoming a home based childminder in 2005. Although homebased, we are outside every day with trips to country parks, the canal and woods.  When I was a little girl, I remember my parents talking to me at length about trees, wildlife and flowers. I was always outside, collecting conkers, climbing trees and planting acorns and so I grew up with an interest in nature. I passed this on to my own children and am now passing it on to my child-minding children. I regularly meet folk who cannot tell an Ash tree from a Beech Tree, or do not know what a conker or sweet chestnut will grow into.   One little girl at my setting, aged 5, who had just started school was doing an observational painting when she said to me, “my teacher doesn’t call them daffodils Katy, she calls them flowers”    : (  It is so important for children to learn about nature, a flower is not just a flower, the same as a tree is not just a tree. Trees have different bark, leaves, branch structure, each playing a specific role in the ecosystem. Learning these facts fosters a personal connection and encourages children to care for and protect the environment. Tree, plant and animal identification improves observational skills, memory retention and an understanding of biodiversity. Because of my love for nature and my job, I have just bought a wood with my childminding colleague and friend, Caroline. It was called Ruddock wood.  [Cotgrave, near Nottingham, Nottinghamshire].  Ruddock is an archaic British term for Robin Redbreast, so we renamed it Robin wood.   In Sept 2026 ,we will both be changing from home-based childminders to forest childminders, working in the wood with our eight charges aged 3 months to 4 years from early morning to evening four days a week, throughout the year.   It is this full forest experience, using the forest school ethos, where children are immersed in nature-based play, that results in the child being deeply engaged and involved, empowering them to explore their surroundings with curiosity, critical thinking and independence.  It allows them to be physically active, using their whole bodies, they take risks, which in turn promotes resilience, creativity and develops social skills, this improves their mental health and emotional well-being. In Robin wood, the children are learning all the time, from tree identification, they understand what a beech husk is and search for beechnuts, they know acorns grow into oak trees and regularly use the word nocturnal when talking about night animals. Other skills normally not associated with preschool children include, whittling wood, sawing logs using hacksaws and bowsaws, they hammer nails into their sawn offcuts and use flints and steels to start fires, cooking lunch from scratch. We aim to educate people on the benefits of outdoor learning to ensure our young people grow up as well-rounded individuals with a passion for the outdoors. Contact on 07817 972321 Woodlands.co.uk are the proud sponsors of The Young Lives Foundation (YLF) for 2026 The Young Lives Foundation (charity no: 1119528) is an award-winning independent children’s charity in Kent supporting young people to thrive through effective advocacy, mentoring and youth programmes, including through woodlands based initiatives.

“Every tree is held up by its own history, the very bones of its ancestors…Jake has gained a new awareness of how her life is being held up by unseen layers, girded by lives that came before her own. And by a series of crimes and miracles, accidents and choices, sacrifices and mistakes, all of which have landed her in this particular body and delivered her to this day”.  And so, we find ourself as reader, embroiled in the history of several generations of the Greenwood family, as we trace their mixed fortunes from the great depression through to a dystopian future of a ruined planet and the corporate greed that has destroyed it.  The theme of this book and the reason why it has been reviewed here is the connection to trees, woodland and forestry which runs through the narrative. The dependence on trees manifests itself in the chosen professions of each generation of the Greenwood family. From small landowner and wood cutter; to business tycoon, environmental campaigner, carpenter and research scientist. The woodland theme is ever present and is sure to engage those who have an interest in trees and their changing role in our world over time. I don’t propose to give away the details of the story here but suffice to say that I found it interesting enough to keep me looking forward to the next instalment as an unchallenging bedtime read. In this sense it accomplishes its principle aim as a novel in engaging the reader but whether it succeeds any further in providing either historical insight or poignant social comment on the environment, will be up to others to make their own judgement. “What are families other than fictions? Stories told about a particular cluster of people for a particular reason? And like all stories, families are not born, they’re invented, pieced together from love and lies and nothing else. And through these messy means, so too might this poor, destitute child become -for good and for ill- a Greenwood.” Greenwood is frequently sentimental and at times outright mawkish and not quite artful enough to convey any real depth of emotion, especially with regard to parenthood, death and particularly so with trees. I also felt there was a limited success in the treatment of the great depression and the effect this had on the places that we are taken to on our journey across the impoverished Canadian landscape of the early twentieth century. There was a missed opportunity here for greater descriptive flair with the writing, to fully evoke the abject misery of a brutalised population.   The plot itself also relied a little heavily on contrivance and simplification to explain the actions of the protagonists…why was RJ Holt so keen to recover a journal that didn’t seem to contain anything particularly incriminating? And why didn’t Jake indulge the specious legal ramblings of Silas and save her island, the trees and humanity itself? “And, most important of all, she’ll establish a lab in this very office and hire Knut back, along with the world’s brightest minds in dendrology, and together they’ll discover a cure for the withering that will save the trees not only here, but everywhere.” And so it was, that as we cantered towards the final chapters at a rewarding pace, I experienced a sinking feeling that the storyline was going to just peter out rather than conclude… a little like the Greenwood family itself and the ravaged earth that they had lived on.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are some of England’s most remarkable natural places. With over 4,100 sites across the country, they showcase the very best of our wildlife, habitats, and geology - collectively covering around 1.1 million hectares (about 8% of England). Owning a SSSI woodland is a special opportunity. As a custodian of one of these nationally important areas, you play a meaningful part in protecting and enhancing our natural heritage for generations to come. Many owners find this a rewarding way to connect more deeply with their land and its wildlife.  Beyond their conservation value, SSSIs can also offer quiet places for recreation, provide opportunities for scientific study, and deliver wider benefits such as clean water, flood management, carbon storage, and pollination. Because of their importance, some activities on SSSIs need to be carefully managed. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sets out a list of operations that require consent from Natural England before going ahead—such as tree work, drainage changes, or certain types of recreational activity. Most owners find the process straightforward, and it helps ensure that any work supports the special features of the site. More guidance is available at Sites of special scientific interest: managing your land - GOV.UK When purchasing land, conveyancing checks will normally confirm whether it lies within a SSSI. You can also explore this yourself via the MAGIC map system, and further information about individual sites is available at designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England is there to help. Through good management advice, and tailored guidance, they work alongside landowners to support positive management and help sites deliver for nature recovery. Open communication is encouraged, as is collaboration with neighbouring landowners—particularly for larger-scale matters such as deer or squirrel management. Many traditional woodland practices, including coppicing, natural regeneration, and managing invasive species, fit well with SSSI conservation and are often recommended. Some protected features may be less visible, such as fungi or particular bird communities, but the focus is on looking after the habitats that support them. Although caring for a SSSI may feel like a responsibility at first, it can be hugely rewarding. Owners frequently enjoy the sense of purpose, connection to nature, and contribution to biodiversity. Support, advice, and in many cases grant or stewardship options are available—meaning even small woodland owners can make a real and lasting positive difference. Adrian Jowitt  Principal advisor on woodland policy, Natural England.

Researchers at the Animal and Plant Health Authority (APHA) has been working of an oral contraceptive that will hopefully offer a way to reduce grey squirrel populations in a humane and effective manner.  The contraceptive targets a mammalian hormone known as GnRH [Gonadotropic Releasing Hormone].  This hormone stimulates squirrels to ovulate or produce testosterone.  The contraceptive stimulates the production of antibodies against the GnRH so that the animals are rendered sterile.  However, there are problems with the contraceptive. It affects other species, such voles, wood mice, and dormice if they feed in the ‘traps’. Ensuring its effective means of delivery to grey squirrels alone. To address these issues, APHA has be experimenting with different designs of baited ‘traps / feeders’ to deliver the contraceptive so that only grey squirrels can enter.  The bait for these ‘traps / feeders’ is hazelnut butter mixed with rhodamine B.  The rhodamine B is added as it causes the fur of grey animals that have taken the bait to fluoresce under UV light, it may also colour the fur of the squirrel to PINK. Red squirrels cannot reach the bait as they are not heavy enough to trigger the internal mechanism of the trap / feeder.  A recent test of the mechanism revealed 19,000 visits by grey squirrels but only 9 by mice, so it does effectively distinguish between different woodland species.  There is now a plan to test the traps / feeders on a much larger scale in Cumbria, Northumberland, South Scotland and Lancashire.  Perhaps technology may be used to follow the behaviour of the animals at the 'traps' - e.g. trail cameras / infra red photography. Modelling by APHA of the contraceptive and modified traps suggests that grey populations might drop by half within six years.  Other methods to reduce the grey squirrel numbers include: The introduction of Pine Martens in suitable areas, which predate more successfully on grey squirrels, as the red ones are somewhat nimbler. Incentives for landowners to create more woodland.   Further information : https://aphascience.blog.gov.uk/2018/10/09/red-squirrel/