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June’s Monthly Mushroom: Deer Shield mushroom (Pluteus cervinus)

June’s Monthly Mushroom: Deer Shield mushroom (Pluteus cervinus)

by Jasper Sharp, 14 June, 2019, 0 comments

After last month’s epic two-parter on the Elder Whitewash fungus, I’m reining in my focus to something more traditionally mushroom-looking this month. The recent combination of generally warmer temperatures coupled with the odd cooling cloudburst and resulting humidity has prompted the appearance of a number of mushroom sproutings in recent weeks, and one of my recent sightings has been the Deer Shield Mushroom (Pluteus Cervinus), which Roger Phillips’ Mushrooms and other Fungi of Great Britain & Europe says can be found from “early summer to late autumn, but also sporadically throughout the year.” I found specimens of this elegant looking species from October to mid-December last year and early May this year, so they are pretty prevalent throughout the seasons. Read more...

Trees, woodlands and methane

Trees, woodlands and methane

by Chris, 12 June, 2019, 0 comments

Methane might be a clean fossil fuel when in a pipeline but it is second only to carbon dioxide in terms of contributing to global warming, when present in the atmosphere. Over the last two centuries, the level of methane in the atmosphere has increased dramatically (and now stands at approximately 1800 parts per billion). Much of this increase has been linked to certain agricultural practices (farming of cattle and other ruminants, paddy fields) plus the emissions from decomposing landfill etc. However, recent work in a number of forested and woodland areas (for example, The Amazon, Borneo, China, Hungary etc) has suggested that the release of methane by trees is significant, and given that methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas - this has to be considered in relation to climate change. The methane contribution from trees has not really been considered when working out the global methane budget but it now seems that they make a contribution. Read more...

Feed the birds …..

Feed the birds …..

by Lewis, 10 June, 2019, 1 comments

In many gardens across the country, people ‘feed the birds’. On bird tables and other structures, they put out peanuts and various ‘wild bird’ seeds, fat balls or other high energy offerings (sunflower seeds, ‘suet cakes’). Over the years, bird food and the provision of feeding stations have changed significantly. It has been estimated that possibly up to 60,000 tonnes of peanuts and other seeds are placed in gardens each year - a “bird-care” facility valued in millions. Read more...

"Make me something beautiful..."

“Make me something beautiful…”

by Angus, 7 June, 2019, 0 comments

Ever since neolithic times humans have been making beads. Gareth Riseborough is copying the methods that stone age man (and woman!) would have used to make beautiful jewellery. By studying archeological remains and by experimenting with what works he has shown that you can use stones from your woodland, or from a beach, to create fashionable ornaments. At the 2019 Bushcraft Show in Derbyshire Gareth showed me how he makes beads from Kimmeridge Shale which he found in Dorset on the Jurassic coastline. Read more...

How to draw a tree - a short film from WoodlandsTV

How to draw a tree – a short film from WoodlandsTV

by Angus, 3 June, 2019, 0 comments

Everyone wants to be able to draw better and a good place to start is by drawing a tree. A new WoodlandsTV film teaches you how to draw a tree, or actually how to draw groups of trees. Michele Tranquillini is a rather brilliant Italian artist who has made this tree-drawing video especially for woodlandsTV. He shows you how to convert a line of simple circles into a row of trees, by using shadow and colour. I particularly liked the way he animates his drawing with some birds by writing the number 3 on its side. Read more...

Woodcock Wood: Nuthatches

Woodcock Wood: Nuthatches

by Chris Saunders, 30 May, 2019, 0 comments

Nuthatches are one of our real favourites. We’ve had them nesting in a box in our walnut tree at home for several years. They are colourful, noisy and bold birds, full of character, with a bit of a mean streak. They will keep the sparrows and tits under control at a feeder, and even a mated pair don’t tolerate each other too well where food is concerned. They are able to climb headfirst down a tree, a feat not managed even by the Treecreeper. This agility is evident from an early age. We’ve had the privilege of watching young grow with a nest box camera, and they climb around inside of the box well before their feathers are fully developed. Read more...

chia seeds

Seed dispersal – coming to a sticky end

by Chris, 26 May, 2019, 0 comments

Some seeds when they are dispersed come with a small layer or ‘wing’, made of a complex carbohydrate (mixed with some protein). When wetted, this material swells to form a sticky, gooey mess - this is mucilage. For a seed to be dispersed with a sticky mass of goo may seem strange, but biology is rarely wasteful or without purpose. One such mucilaginous seed is “CHIA”. Chia seeds are classified as a ‘novel food’ in Europe [since 1997], though they have formed part of the diet for people in parts of the Central Americas for centuries. The seeds are from the fruits of Salvia hispanica - an annual herb that belongs to the Mint Family (Lamiaceae). The seeds are small (about 1 mm) and roughly oval, they are rich in a number of nutrients - such as omega-3-fatty acids, and minerals like calcium and magnesium. Read more...

What we have done with a wood of our own

What we have done with a wood of our own

by Martin, 26 May, 2019, 1 comments

One family's account of buying a their own piece of woodland in Devon. There are many reasons why you might want to buy a piece of woodland. Perhaps you want to use it for wildlife conservation or to help you and your family strive for a better way of life and well being. For the Turner family their decision was motivated by the latter. They wanted a place they could escape from the stresses and strain of modern life and the trappings of digital connectivity. Martin Turner discovered woodlands.co.uk who specialise in selling parcels of woodland. Woodlands had a wide range of potential sites and after making contact, Martin was soon viewing potential locations with the local woodland manager. The family wanted their woodland to be close enough to their home so that they could easily reach it within half an hour. Their criteria also included a light, varied and characterful piece of woodland, with good vehicle access, the potential for the production of firewood and all of this in an area with no phone signal! Read more...

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