Blog - June 2008

What Is Ancient Woodland?

What Is Ancient Woodland?

by Angus, 27 June, 2008, 4 comments

Any woodland which has remained as woodland for the last 400 years (since 1600) is described as “ancient woodland”. Read more...

Wild Garlic Recipes

Wild Garlic Recipes

by catherine, 20 June, 2008, 26 comments

Anyone who’s walked through a wood and smelt that distinctive onion-y smell has been near one of the commonest, but little used, wild foods. Wild Garlic (Alium ursinum) or ransoms is common in woods all over the UK. Read more...

The Rosemary Beetle

The Rosemary Beetle

by Chris, 20 June, 2008, 41 comments

In recent years, there has been a new entrant to the RHS list of top ten garden pests. Its ‘top ten’ list is based on the number of inquiries that it receives to its advisory service. The newcomer is the rosemary beetle, Chrysolina americana. Despite the implication, from its scientific name, that it is American in origin, it actually hails from Southern Europe.This beetle has now become established in the London and the Home Counties, Norwich and a number of other places - map available here. Read more...

Rope and Cordage

Rope and Cordage

by Alan, 13 June, 2008, 1 comments

During man's history, rope and cordage has been made from numerous materials.Obviously the first materials used were natural materials such as bramble, nettle, flax, sisal, hemp, jute, manila, cotton, coir various tree barks or bast, various grasses and straws etc. Sometimes the leaves would be used, sometimes the stems or even the roots and bark of trees or other plants. Some animal skins, hairs & sinew have also been used. The material would be chosen because it was available locally or because of specific characteristics, ie strength, suppleness, buoyancy, elasticity, etc. Read more...

Midges, Mosquitoes and Marmite - coping with insects in woodlands

Midges, Mosquitoes and Marmite – coping with insects in woodlands

by Angus, 13 June, 2008, 33 comments

There are lots of ways to cope with the irritation of being bitten by insects in woodlands and here are some ideas from various experienced woodland workers. Avoid Them Altogether First of all consider when mosquitoes and midges are most active. In the winter, early spring and autumn mosquitoes and midges are much less active so this is a good time to do your energetic, outdoor work. Carbon dioxide from breathing and from forestry machinery will attract insects so it's good to avoid doing major forestry operations in the summer months if possible. Read more...

Treebog Course with The Nature's Playground Project – “quite beautiful toilets …”

Treebog Course with The Nature’s Playground Project – “quite beautiful toilets …”

by jade newton gardener, 6 June, 2008, 0 comments

You may remember a great blog a couple of months ago by Jackie of Play Action about her forest school plans. Their latest project is to build some “facilities” at their wood in Ashford, Kent – pretty essential if you have lots of kids visiting! Would you like to take part and get some excellent and practical tuition into the bargain?! It’s quite soon – Thurs 12th to Sat 14th June ’08 – so if you’re interested read on for more information from Jade who’s organising the project: Read more...

How did the grey squirrel arrive in the UK?

How did the grey squirrel arrive in the UK?

by catherine, 6 June, 2008, 30 comments

Here is an answer to all those questions on the Red squirrel, grey squirrel blog asking about the introduction of grey squirrels! Grey squirrels (Scirius caroliniensis) are native to North America and were first released in the UK in 1876 in Henbury Park, Cheshire. It’s not clear why they were introduced and the Victorians had no idea of the risks of introducing non-native species. Perhaps they were just a decorative and interesting “exotic” in the park; part of the fashion for collecting that the Victorians enjoyed so much. Read more...

Wild Flower Guide

Badger

Read our guide to wild flowers of woodland and hedgerow

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