Ride for Research 2012 in Reading City

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In: arboriculture, news

I completed the Reading City leg of the 2012 Ride for Research event last weekend; riding about 21 miles. Thank you to all those who sponsored me. I exceed my personal fundraising target of £200 – today it stands at a little over £350. It’s not too late if youContinue Reading

Black walnut in Oxford Botanic Garden

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In: arboriculture, feature, travel

Britain has many wonderful collections of trees in arboreta, botanic gardens and country parks.  Many of these are some of the oldest collections in the world.  I’ve created an interactive Google map showing the finest collections of trees in Britain. Click on the map icons to read more about eachContinue 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: arboriculture, feature

Trees in our streets improve air quality, provide beneficial micro-climate, enhance property values and aesthetics, attenuate storm water, conserve energy, reduce noise pollution, provide wildlife habitat, and have a positive effect on physical and mental human health. There’s no denying that trees can cause problems in the built environment. TheirContinue Reading

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In: arboriculture, feature, forestry, silviculture, trees

The ability of a tree to heal itself quickly following pruning is important as it reduces the risk of infection, reduces the impact on tree growth, and improves the quality of its timber. I’ve written previously about how to prune a tree and if you follow these guidelines correctly, theContinue Reading

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In: arboriculture, art, feature, forestry

Young forest trees often require some form of ‘formative’ shaping or pruning during the first 5-10 years after planting.  I co-wrote a practical guide on this subject for Woodland Heritage, and created the artwork that I’ve reproduced here.     Young trees may require pruning for a variety of reasons,Continue Reading