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Medlars

Medlars

by Lewis, 31 December, 2010, 5 comments

BBC's Country file recently featured a report on Medlars. The Medlar tree (Mespilus germanica) was probably a Roman import.   In the 'dark ages' and Mediaeval times, the winter months probably did not offer many opportunities for fresh fruits  and / or vegetables; and people were likely to become deficient in vitamin C (scorbutic),  as winter progressed. Read more...
Weather and climate ......

Weather and climate ……

by Chris, 25 December, 2010, 6 comments

Books often describe our climate as being ‘mild for the latitude’.  It might be difficult to believe this given the actual weather over these last few weeks. Newfoundland is similar in latitude to the British Isles, but the average temperature is some 10oC colder in winter.  We are the beneficiaries of the warming effect of the North Atlantic Drift – a current that develops in the Gulf of Mexico and then flows north-east across the Atlantic. It is a part or continuation of the Gulf Stream but we are also at the mercy of the jet stream. Read more...
Holly, predicting the weather ?

Holly, predicting the weather ?

by Chris, 21 December, 2010, 8 comments

Back in November, a number of papers reported that our holly trees were full with their bright red berries, and that according to folklore this was a sign that a hard winter was to come. There is no clear logic to this, as it is the Spring weather that determines whether there are insects around for the flowers to be pollinated, plus sun and warmth in early autumn to help the berries to ripen.  The berries are particularly plump and abundant this year.  The last ‘good berry’ year was last year (2009) and the winter that followed was the coldest for some 30 years.  Already, we are experiencing cold and severe weather conditions so perhaps the berries are ‘right' again. Read more...
WOODLAND TRUST : a leopard changing its spots?

WOODLAND TRUST : a leopard changing its spots?

by Angus, 18 December, 2010, 17 comments

The Woodland Trust has been going since 1972 and has grown into quite a big organisation with a turnover of over £25 million per year and it owns over 1,000 woodlands covering about 50,000 acres.  It's big in other ways too with about 270 staff and a spanking new headquarters at Grantham which they moved into in mid-November 2010 and large collection of supporters and volunteers.  Last year, the membership topped 200,000 and this had doubled over the previous 9 years. Read more...
Save the Mistletoe !

Save the Mistletoe !

by Lewis, 14 December, 2010, 2 comments

Mistletoe, one of the time-honoured symbols of Christmas is under threat!  For many years, the ‘heartlands’ for mistletoe collection have been the cider counties – such as Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.  However, many of the orchards in these areas have declined or have been lost over the last 50 / 60 years. It is possible that Mistletoe could become a rarity in our countryside. Read more...
Creating Woodland Glades

Creating Woodland Glades

by Kevin Lerwill, 10 December, 2010, 0 comments

Gatwick Greenspace Partnership (part of the Sussex Wildlife Trust) took on the management of Lower Orlton’s Copse, near Rusper, in March of this year *. Since then we have, in consultation with the Forestry Commission, decided as part of the management, to extend a small number of glades to open up the high canopy and improve the amount of ground flora in these areas. Read more...
Simple steps

Simple steps

by Dan, 9 December, 2010, 1 comments

The construction of steps in your woodland can be a quick and simple task which will help you to access areas that are otherwise awkward to get to. Although you may be able to scramble up and down banks in the summer during the winter the same bank may become very slippery and impassable.  Steps can help you get to more remote areas of your wood year round enabling you to take in a good view, look into a beautiful pool or harvest some timber. Read more...
Making Sweet Chestnut Flour

Making Sweet Chestnut Flour

by Andy Noble, 8 December, 2010, 5 comments

The Sweet Chestnut is not a native tree to Britain.  It is thought that the tree originated in Greece but and was planted in the Britain by the Roman, who planted the tree all across their conquered empire.   This is presumably for the use of the nuts that grow on the tree.  The nuts have formed an important food source for centuries where crops couldn’t be grown, and just like wheat the nuts can be ground into flour. Read more...

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