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The National Forest

The National Forest

by Chris, 21 April, 2011, 2 comments

The Countryside Commission had the idea of creating a new ‘National Forest’ in 1987 – to give a tangible expression of the benefits of trees and woodlands.  It also has a practical role in terms of demonstrating the importance of carbon fixation (through photosynthesis) and the importance of this in the amelioration of climate change. The National Forest was and is a bold project, focusing on some 200 square miles of central England (parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire).  The area includes farmland and the relics of coalfields & mineral workings, with some pockets of ancient woodland – for example, Charnwood Forest to the east and Needwood Forest to the west. A map of the area of the National Forest can be seen here . Read more...
Woodland Shelter Build.

Woodland Shelter Build.

by Mike Alex and Mark, 11 April, 2011, 6 comments

A priority when staying out in the woods is a good water and wind proof shelter The following photos show the construction of a hazel wood shelter to sleep 2-3 people. We are out a lot, so we built it to last. The photographs in the 'strip' below show the various stages in the construction of the shelter. Read more...
The Centre for Alternative Technology - Practical woodland courses

The Centre for Alternative Technology – Practical woodland courses

by Angus, 7 April, 2011, 3 comments

The “piss and wind centre” is what local people  used to call CAT in mid Wales because of its commitment to waste recycling and windpower, but it is committed to a lot more than that – perhaps its main mission is training.  Oxfam regularly send people to learn about water and sanitation and visitors even have a choice of using a standard toilet or a composting one. Read more...
Biochar at the Centre for Alternative Technology: business opportunity for small woodland owners or climate change solution

Biochar at the Centre for Alternative Technology: business opportunity for small woodland owners or climate change solution

by Chris Colley, 31 March, 2011, 12 comments

Biochar may be used to mitigate climate change brought on by global warming, by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and locking the carbon into the soil, if James Lovelock (originator of the seductive Gaia hypothesis) is to be believed.  Others say the numbers just don’t work.   Biochar is also put forward as a very effective soil improver, which can reduce fertiliser use, reduce pollution, increase crop yields, and as an approach to agriculture may be traced back to the terras preta (black soils) of the Amazonian rainforest. Read more...
Fungi, mycorrhizae, truffles

Fungi, mycorrhizae, truffles

by Chris, 25 February, 2011, 6 comments

The Fungi are a very diverse group of organisms, ranging from the true fungi (Mycota), which includes the mushrooms and toadstools, and the Oomycota (which includes the potato blight fungus).  Unlike green plants, fungi do not have any chlorophyll so cannot make sugars and other compounds by photosynthesis. They get their sugars / carbohydrates through being saprobes (saprophytes), parasites, or sometimes symbionts. Read more...
Making medlar cheese

Making medlar cheese

by Angus, 5 January, 2011, 33 comments

Medlars are a much under-appreciated fruit.  We recently picked a large bag of medlars which would otherwise have gone to waste and decided to make medlar cheese.  The first thing, to make them edible, is it to leave them to go soft and squishy - the medlars will change from a yellowy colour to a dark brown - this is called bletting and is essential to any medlar processing. Read more...
Medlars

Medlars

by Lewis, 31 December, 2010, 5 comments

BBC's Country file recently featured a report on Medlars. The Medlar tree (Mespilus germanica) was probably a Roman import.   In the 'dark ages' and Mediaeval times, the winter months probably did not offer many opportunities for fresh fruits  and / or vegetables; and people were likely to become deficient in vitamin C (scorbutic),  as winter progressed. Read more...
Creating Woodland Glades

Creating Woodland Glades

by Kevin Lerwill, 10 December, 2010, 0 comments

Gatwick Greenspace Partnership (part of the Sussex Wildlife Trust) took on the management of Lower Orlton’s Copse, near Rusper, in March of this year *. Since then we have, in consultation with the Forestry Commission, decided as part of the management, to extend a small number of glades to open up the high canopy and improve the amount of ground flora in these areas. Read more...

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