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In: feature, trees

It is Saint Swithin’s Day today, 15th July: the day on which people traditionally watch the weather.  Tradition says that whatever the weather is like on St. Swithin’s Day, it will continue the same for the next forty days. There is a well-known weather-rhyme in Britain: St. Swithin’s day ifContinue Reading

Maiden sweet chestnut and coppice

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In: forestry, silviculture, trees

This week I had the pleasure of visiting Kent – “England’s garden” – famous for its apple, cherry and cobnut growing.  It is also the centre of Britain’s sweet chestnut coppice industry. Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) was introduced to Britain by the Romans some 2000 years ago.  Its attraction wasContinue Reading

Oak shade leaves

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In: feature, science, trees

Every tree will have many thousands of leaves, all of which need sunlight to be able to make energy for the plant. A tree is remarkably ‘clever’ in managing the position, size and habit of its leaves, including …Continue Reading

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In: arboriculture, forestry, science, trees

Many people are interested in how big a tree’s crown will grow. It can be important in planning gardens, managing street trees, forest silviculture and in assessing the health of ancient trees. Estimating tree height is very imprecise as it is dependent on so many different factors.  However, I wroteContinue Reading

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In: nature, photo, trees

Deep within an English woodland, while the distant bark of a roe deer echoed between the hazel coppice stools, the nearby sounds of a calling coot led to me to water and a hidden woodland pond.  As I explored the fringes of the carr woodland I came across these luminescentContinue Reading

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In: feature, science, trees

There is a very good relationship between a tree’s stem diameter and its crown diameter. This can be used in many different ways by foresters, arboriculturists and landscape planners to plan and model tree growth and …Continue Reading

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In: art, feature, trees, wood

“Walnut is without the question the most beautiful wood on earth, ranging from the colour of honey to the rich depth of chocolate-brown, often marked with smoky swirls and streaks of pigment from dark brown to black. The grain can be perfectly straight, elegantly swept, or a festival of waves,Continue Reading

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In: feature, news, policy, science, trees

My 32 mile cycling adventure through London in March with 22 other Ride for Research riders, in aid of raising funds to support research into acute oak decline disease, accumulated a total of £5,500.  A cheque was presented recently to scientists from Forest Research. Russell Ball’s personal account of organising theContinue Reading

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In: feature, trees

The first of May is a day of celebration and a public holiday in many countries.  May Day in Britain includes dancing around the Maypole and the crowing of a May Queen.  Trees play an important role in these traditions as they have long been symbols of vitality and fertility,Continue Reading