Young birch tree in a treeshelter

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In: ash, beech, black poplar, elm, forestry, history, horse chestnut, oak, sweet chestnut, walnut

There are 60 or more trees in Britain that are native, meaning tree species, subspecies or hybrids that have established themselves without the hand of man. Yet only 35 are widespread meaning that the palette is actually quite limited, particularly when the full range of benefits from woodlands are considered, together with threats from environmental change.Continue Reading

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In: film, horse chestnut, science, trees

Today I watched a horse chestnut leaf miner moth, Cameraria ohridella, laying her eggs on the fresh young leaves of a horse chestnut tree. Here’s a short film that I captured. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gURZ-GsXyIY The tiny larvae will hatch in about three weeks and start to feed on the tree’s resources.  FirstContinue Reading