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In: art, feature, forestry

To celebrate the International Year of Forests, the theme for PostEurop’s postage stamps for 2011 is trees and forests.  Europa stamps have been produced by many European countries and demonstrate some wonderful and varied designs.  Here are some of my favourites. If you have a philatelic interest and want toContinue 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

Common spotted orchid

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In: nature, photo, photography

This weekend I revisited a woodland plantation that I’d planted 19 years ago.  I was delighted to discover a coterie of common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).  The sweet chestnut trees that I’d planted had been coppiced, as originally planned, and were accompanied by ‘volunteer’ silver birch.  The light shading canopyContinue Reading

Forest of Dean plantation

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In: comment, Our Forests

Planting more of the same ‘native woodlands’ that now litter the English countryside with little more ambition in their creation and management than a membership publicity drive or community engagement excercise, will be regretted long after the PR-masters behind them have past. In their own way, these are as regrettable as the dark satanic rows of conifers that were planted sixty years ago.
If we continue to plant green fuzz across our food-producing fields, with little concern either for the impending need to be more self-sufficient in food production, or for the need to reduce our enormous reliance on timber imports, Britain’s environmental credibility will be increasingly undermined.Continue Reading

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In: health

The Ramblers, Britain’s walking charity, were the first NGO to respond to the launch of Our Forests today.  In a welcome step Justin Cooke, Ramblers Senior Policy Officer, said: “The more people are involved with the Panel, including scrutinizing and evaluating its work, the more its recommendations will reflect theContinue Reading

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In: forestry, news

Today sees the launch of a new ‘ginger group’ – Our Forests – with the aim of ensuring a People’s Vision for the Future of England’s Woods and ForestsContinue 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: comment

Securing healthy, sustainably managed forests in the light of climate change and its severe consequences is one of the biggest challenges we have to solve in Europe and globally. This is the headline from the Forest Europe Ministerial Conference that opened today, hosted by Norway. The fact that Europe’s forestsContinue Reading

On:
In: art, photo

Early dawn in rural Oxfordshire, England.  The sun was about to rise over the Chilterns (left) early on this morning in June, and would soon illuminate the Wittenham Clumps, visible in the centre distance. Gabriel HemeryContinue Reading