Out for a walk after the various festivities?  Perhaps you might be able to help the People’s Trust for Endangered Species by undertaking a hedgerow survey.   Across the UK there are many, many hedgerows.  Hedgerows can Provide shelter, homes, perches for a variety of animals,  Food for mammals, birds and invertebrates in the form of flowers, berries and nuts.   Harbour insects that act as important pollinators of wild flowers and crops. Help to reduce flooding and soil erosion,  Help mitigate air and water pollution levels  Store carbon  Act as corridors along which animals, such as hedgehogs and dormice can travel across the countryside. The Trust is looking for volunteers to fill in a survey form and record features of their chosen hedge, such as  the height,  width,  structure and  which tree species are present.  The results will help the trust to build a picture of the health of our hedgerows and how they are changing over time.  To find out more and to take part in the Great British Hedgerow Survey, visit the PTES website for more information : https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/about-our-hedge-surveys

Willow bark and the covid virus. The Covid pandemic created great strains on health and business services, and the virus continues to impact society in many ways.  It is not surprising that there is an ongoing search for anti-viral agents. Finnish scientists have found that willow bark may have a role to play. Willow bark has been used as a natural medicinal product over the centuries as an effective agent to treat pain and inflammation.  The anti-inflammatory properties of the bark are generally ascribed to salicin, which was to lead to the development of acetylsalicylic acid, that is aspirin.  The Finnish scientists ground up the willow bark in hot water and then sieved it to create an ‘extract’.   This solution was then added to a number of cell cultures that were exposed to different viruses (enteroviruses, a seasonal coronavirus and SARS CoV2).  They then monitored the viral activity, cell infection and viral replication  The extract had an effect on all of the viruses.  In some cases, the extract affected the envelope of the virus (a structure surrounding the viral genetic material) so the viruses essentially broke down, whereas others were prevented from releasing their genetic material and reproducing.  Specifically, though the Covid-19 virus could enter cells when treated with the extract, it could not reproduce once inside. The research team analysed the extract’s chemical composition and tested some known constituents of bark but concluded the success of the extract probably resulted from the interactions of different biologically active compounds.  Compounds in the extract included many complex chemicals (for example, hydroxycinnamic acids, salicylates, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, and proanthocyanidins (polyphenols).  Further work will focus on the role / interactions of these various compounds. The Hazel Dormouse in peril. The numbers of the hazel dormouse have fallen dramatically since the turn of the century.  The dormouse has disappeared from Staffordshire, Northumberland and Herefordshire in the last few years.  This loss is attributed to The destruction / fragmentation of their habitats Poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, leading to a loss of diversity / niches Rising deer numbers, feeding on saplings and shrubs Extreme weather patterns may also play a part Captive-bred dormice have been re-introduced to some 25 sites in 13 counties across the country, sadly nine of these reintroductions were not successful.  Dormouse bridges have been created to enable the animals to move between areas dissected by major roads (such as the M1), others are planned.   The dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) is a nocturnal animal and lives mainly in deciduous woodland,  it feeds among the branches of trees and shrubs. the dormouse rarely descends to the ground.  It feeds on a wide variety of 'foods' ;  flowers (nectar and pollen), fruits (berries and nuts), certain buds and leaves and some insects, such as aphids and caterpillars. The hazel dormouse is regarded as a ‘flagship species’, that is to say, if the dormice are thriving then it is likely that other species are too from butterflies to birds such as the nightingale.  Dormice are currently assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction in Britain under IUCN Red List criteria, but recent studies suggest a classification of ‘Endangered’ might be more appropriate.  Certainly, their future is uncertain. Detailed information on the hazel dormouse is available at PTES (note this link opens a PDF).  Their report details the state of hazel dormice in 2023. zsaqwa https://youtu.be/4u-yMkXOuTY Changes in the Boreal Forests. Boreal forests encircle the northern reaches of the Earth, lying just below the treeless under of the Arctic.  These forest cover large areas of Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia.  These forests contain billions of trees, most are conifers but birch, poplar and aspen may also be found.  The trees (and soils) contribute significantly to the cycling of carbon in nature, absorbing carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. They are also home to many species of migratory birds, plus predator species such as lynx and brown bears, and wandering herds of moose. Due to the remoteness of these forests, they have remained (until relatively recently) unaffected by human impact.  Now these forests are warming at a rate above the global average.  This has a number of effects:  In the southern parts of the boreal forest. Conditions are becoming too warm for cold adapted trees; their growth is slowed and they may die. With the warming comes increased dryness, which leads to water stress and increased risk of insect attack /  infestation. The dryness also means that forest fires are more likely and occur with increased ferocity.  This year, the fires in Canada have been particularly extensive and damaging.  Some 18.5M hectares went up in flames.   The plumes of smoke spread far and wide. [caption id="attachment_40597" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Canadian forest fire[/caption] Scientists are now using satellites to track changes in the extent of the boreal forests.  If trees are being lost on the southern edge of these forest, then it might be expected that the northern limit for tree growth might change.  Indeed, there is some evidence for this in Alaska where young Spruce are now growing some 25 miles beyond the previous tree line, moving into the ‘treeless tundra’.  It may be the loss on the southern edge is compensated by extension of the most northern parts of the boreal forest, but it is not clear whether tree can ‘move’ at the rate of climate change.  

What do nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, cinnamon, anise, cloves, ginger, and cardamom generally have in common ? Broadly speaking, they are spices that we associate with Christmas. They are much used in cakes, christmas puddings, mince pies, mulled wine, and punch. They add nuance and flavour to eating and drinking at this time of year.  Whilst spices are parts of plants, ‘spices’ is not a strict botanical term, more a culinary one. Spices come from a variety of plant sources, ranging from woody shrubs and trees, to the roots, flowers, seeds and fruits of herbaceous plants.   Spices are generally dried plant products, whereas other flavourings notably herbs are used in their fresh state. Spices and herbs offer sensations such as pungency, hotness, freshness as well as feelings of temperature or even pain (think of a very hot chilli pepper or curry).  Apart from the fact that people across the world enjoy the taste of various spices, various hypotheses have been put forward to explain the use of spices (for example, the Darwinian gastronomy hypothesis). Nowadays, spices are regarded as familiar or commonplace but in the past they were exotic and expensive (as was tea, which was kept under lock and key away from the servants).  Spices ‘unlocked’ fortunes for those who ‘discovered’ and transported them from far flung places (such as the Dutch East Indies, the source of nutmeg, cinnamon and black peppercorns). The original source of Nutmeg was the Banda Islands of Indonesia (sugar cane also originated in this area).  The Portuguese and the Dutch fought for control of the islands.  The Dutch East India Company was established in the early 1600’s and operated from Jayakarta for best the best part of 200 years.  Britain briefly occupied the islands and nutmeg trees were sent to Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, and then on to Zanzibar, Grenada and the Indian state of Kerala. As the tree’s (Myristica fragrans) homeland is tropical, it cannot tolerate frost but it is now widely grown throughout Indonesia, India and Guatemala.  Between them, these countries produce some 85% of the nutmeg harvest each year.  Nutmeg trees are dioecious, that is, there are separate male and female trees.  Young trees begin to produce fruit when they are a few years old but it not possible to determine which trees are male and which are female until then.  Obviously only female trees will produce nutmegs.  Peak production of the fruit occurs when the trees are about twenty years old and productivity falls after some 60 years. The fruit is termed [botanically] a drupe.  That is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part (the skin and flesh) surrounds a single shell (the pit, stone) with a seed (or kernel) inside.  The fleshy covering of the nutmeg is sweet and in Indonesian culture may be used to make a jam, juice or dessert.  Beneath the flesh / pulp is a crimson tissue. This is peeled away, dried and grated to form the spice - MACE.   The seed is dried in the sun, the flesh extracted and ground to make the commercial form of NUTMEG, though it can be grated.  Whilst mace and nutmeg are similar in flavour, mace is sometimes described as having a more subtle taste and a bright orange colour.  Nutmeg has a warm, slightly sweet taste; it can be used to flavour baked goods, puddings, potatoes, meats, sauces,, and such drinks such as eggnog (though cinnamon may be used as an alternative ingredient), mulled wine and chai tea. Interestingly, too much nutmeg can have neurological  effects (convulsions, delirium, headaches).  Whilst the chemicals in nutmeg (and other spices) add flavour to our foods and drink, they are actually part of the plant’s defence mechanisms.  They deter insects and other animals from eating / attacking the plant, and may have anti-microbial properties.  Nutmeg contains a compound called myristicin - it protects the seed against attack.  However, in the body this can be converted into the chemical MMDA, an amphetamine derivative,   The effect(s) of consuming large amounts of nutmeg can take some hours to develop and may persist for some time. The levels recommended for use in cooking etc are generally quite safe. Most recipes use between 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and these recipes are then often split into several portions, so the actual exposure to nutmeg (and myristicin) is small. Incidentally, nutmeg was once thought of as a treatment for the plague! Nutmeg is one of the ingredients of mixed spice.  This is a blend of different sweet spices. It often contains cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice; sometimes cloves, ginger, coriander (seeds) and caraway may be added.  The term "mixed spice" has referred to this blend of spices in cookbooks dating back to the nineteenth century and possibly much earlier. Allspice is the dried fruit of the plant Pimenta dioica, an evergreen tree / shrub. Early attempts to grow the tree from seed failed until it was found that the seeds needed to pass through the gut of birds - this was the ‘trigger’ for successful germination.  The fruits are traditionally dried in the sun, they then resemble peppercorns.  At one time, the plant was thought to grow only in Jamaica and it is sometimes referred to as the Jamaica Pepper. Now, it is grown in many warm parts of the world.   Whilst allspice is a valued ingredient in Jamaican cooking, e.g. jerk seasoning, it is also used in many other cuisines : middle eastern, Polish, Finnish and Swedish.  It is used to flavour stews, soups and meat dishes, but can also be used in various sweet dishes.  Allspice is also an ingredient in mixed spice (mentioned above) often used in baking, and in the making of Christmas pudding or a Christmas cake. [caption id="attachment_40700" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Cinnamon[/caption] Historically speaking, another valued spice was cinnamon.  It was a suitable gift at the Temple of Apollo (at Miletus).  The source of cinnamon was a secret to traders in the Mediterranean world for centuries,  they controlled the spice trade in order to protect their profits / monopoly.  Cinnamon comes from Cinnamonum trees that belong to the Laurel family.  There are many species (see here for a list) but Cinnamomum verum known as "Ceylon cinnamon" is considered to be "true cinnamon”. However, most commercially available cinnamon comes from :- C. burmanni  - Indonesian cinnamon or Padang cassia),  C. cassia  - Chinese cinnamon or Chinese cassia),  C. loureiroi  -Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cassia), and C. citriodorum - Malabar cinnamon The trees are coppiced so that multiple stems are produced and it is from the bark of these stems that the strips of cinnamon are produced.   [caption id="attachment_40703" align="alignleft" width="300"] cinnamon quills / sticks[/caption] Cinnamon has a strong, spicy flavour.  The properties of cinnamon come principally from two chemicals - cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. The cinnamaldehyde is largely responsible for the flavour and aroma of cinnamon.    It is known to stimulate particular receptors in the nerve endings in the mouth - the TRP receptors.   The eugenol has a pleasant, spicy, clove-like scent.  Cinnamon is used in the baking of cinnamon rolls and buns, as it handles baking conditions well.  It is commonly used in Sweden, and such is the ‘importance’ of their cinnamon buns - kanelbullar that the Swedes have an official Cinnamon Bun Day - on October 4th!   Cinnamon is also widely used in Portuguese, Turkish and Persian Cuisine. Cinnamon is also used in fragrant candles.  Thousands of years ago, cinnamon (and pine resin) was used in Egypt as a ‘perfume’ / embalming material in the preparation of dead bodies for mummification.  In recent times, cinnamon-rich materials have been investigated for medical uses, particularly in relation to type 2 diabetes and the control of blood sugar levels. Thanks to pixabay for images of nutmeg .

In previous years, the woodlands’ blog has looked at various seasonal foods, such as the Christmas pudding, the Christmas lunch and the seasonal spices.  However, one seasonal flavour that has escaped our attention is ginger. Gingerbread men, gingerbread houses are now very much part of Christmas celebrations in many parts of the world.  The gingerbread house probably dates back to C18th Germany, and associated with the brothers Grimm tale of Hansel and Gretel.   Setting time aside at Christmas to build a gingerbread house is a particularly Swedish tradition. Gingerbread biscuits in the form of people may go back to the court of Queen Elizabeth, where they were made in the likeness of important guests.  In Bergen (Norway), volunteers build a gingerbread town, this is called the Pepperkakebyen,.  buildings, trains, carousels, ferris wheels and scenes from Bergen are made in gingerbread form. Ginger comes from the fleshy root, actually  the  rhizome of Zingiber officinale, [a rhizome is an underground stem].  The plant is a herbaceous perennial which grows to a height of approximately one metre with  narrow leaf blades. Ginger belongs to flowering family Zingiberaceae, which includes turmeric and  cardamom.  Ginger originated in Southeast Asia, it was grown in China and then moved across that part of the world and found its way to Europe with the Spice Trade.   [caption id="attachment_40708" align="aligncenter" width="678"] fresh ginger [/caption] [caption id="attachment_40741" align="alignleft" width="300"] three ginger teabag[/caption] In the western world, it was possibly first used by the Greeks, then the crusaders brought some back with them but it was not until the mid 1600’s that ginger and other spices became more generally available, although expensive.  As a spice, ginger is now easily found in powdered form in supermarkets but fresh ginger root is also available.  The ginger root contains a large number of chemical compounds; zingiberene makes up some 30% of the root’s essential oil, other compounds include  ß-sesquiphelandrene and ar-curcumene.  When the root is sliced up and infused with hot water, a ginger tea is the result.   Ginger in various forms has been used in traditional and alternative medicine, it may aid in digestion and reduce nausea and has been recommended to help with morning sickness in pregnancy. There is some evidence that ginger may help with weight management and possibly arthritis. Ginger with cloves, nutmeg and black pepper combine to make ‘quatre épices’, which was used in sausage making.  All four spices contain antimicrobial compounds, which would help stave off bacterial growth.  At this time of year, Ginger is often used with other spices, for example, cinnamon. The two may be combined in a tea or used in the making of biscuits / cookies, including the traditional gingerbread men for Christmas.

Flowers of the woodland floor. Some woodland flowers enjoy the dappled light of the woodland floor beneath the canopy.  They grow in relatively shady, cool and damp conditions in the humus-rich soils.  Polish scientists at the Nicolaus Copernicus University have been studying four species that often grow together in European woodlands - namely Wood anemone Yellow anemone Lily of the valley Common may lily These are perennial plants that ‘come to life’ in Spring, producing a carpet  of flowers across the woodland floor.  However, as much as they share a liking for the shady, cool and moist conditions found there, they differ in their sensitivity / tolerance to rainfall / moisture levels in the summer months: which may change their distribution as summers become warmer and longer.  The team modelled various warming scenarios which suggested that the ranges of these species may change / contract with hotter and drier summers.  The common may lily is one that may be particularly affected and no longer share the same range or woodlands as the others studied.  If climate change takes a hold, it may be that ‘assisted migration’ may be needed to help such plants to find suitable ‘climatic refugia’. more on plant migration ...... With climate change, both plants and animals need to adapt.  With increasing warmth, many species may ‘need’ to move towards cooler latitudes.  Whilst many animals are mobile, they may be able [over time] to access new suitable areas, plants on the other hand are dependent on the dispersal of their fruits / seeds.  Fruit and seed dispersal may involve various animals, including birds.  If the birds are resident or non-migrating species, then it is probable that they will only disperse seeds over relatively short distances.   Migratory birds however travel great distances but often in the wrong direction.  Many birds that migrate at the end of the summer, travel south to warmer climes.  Work at the University of Exeter has studied a number of woodlands across Europe and bird species that feed on the fruits of 81 plants species (and help disperse their seeds).  They found that only about a third of the plants had fruits (seeds) that might be dispersed northwards by birds.  To benefit from this northward dispersal, the plants needed to either have a very long fruiting period (eg.holly, juniper) or a very late fruiting period (eg. Ivy). Full details of this study here Food production and food waste. As Sir David Attenborough has pointed out in a recent episode of Planet Earth III, producing food to feed the world comes at significant environmental cost.  Natural ecosystems are often burned (forests) or drained (peatlands) and then turned over to agriculture to produce crops or farm animals. The forests of the Amazon have been significantly affected by burning and logging,  with the concomitant loss of biodiversity.  But they are not alone. In Mexico, forests are being lost as the land is being turned over to avocado production.  Mexico’s neighbour, the USA has a voracious appetite for this fruit.  The forests are being turned into ‘avocado orchards’.  Avocado trees are ‘thirsty’, they need a generous supply of water.  They consume much more water than the natural species [eg. oyamel), so that natural aquifers are being depleted.  This affects local farmers growing crops such as tomatoes and corn. One particularly sad aspect of food production is that much of the food is wasted. Some is lost between harvest and reaching the retail sector, and then more is ‘lost’ in the home. Food may not be used, or not used in time so it starts to rot, become rancid etc.  A lot of food goes to land fill, where it may generate methane - a potent greenhouse gas. Sprouting sequoias. In recent times, there have been many images of the fires ravaging the forests of the west coast of the States.  Many thousands of hectares and millions of trees have been lost, including many of the giant redwoods.  However, recent studies have found that some of the burned Sequoias are producing new growth.  They are sprouting from roots and trunks, from dormant buds that have lain hidden under the thick bark for decades, this despite the loss of the canopies of the trees.  To fuel this growth, the trees are using reserve materials that have been stored for 50+ years.

Just as many animal species are threatened with extinction, so are many species of tree.  In fact, one estimate suggests that up to a third of tree species are under threat - that is more than 17,000 species.  This equates to more that the number of endangered mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians put together.  In 2021, the IUCN (the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) produced a report on some 58,497 tree species which identified 17,510 species as being threatened (and 142 extinct in the wild). In Mauritius, some 57% of tree species are at risk of extinction! Ideally, no single tree species should be lost, a single species can be an integral part of an ecological network. Its loss could result in the disappearance of many species and even an ecosystem collapse.  Some tree species are now represented by single numbers of specimens.  The ‘lonesome palm’ (Hyophorbe amaricaulis) is probably the last surviving member of its species. It is to be found in a botanic garden in Mauritius. It is an old, damaged and spindly specimen. It has problems with fruit formation; each of its fruits contains but one seed and the seeds are difficult to germinate (even the botanists at Kew could not persuade them to grow). The best approach to saving vulnerable trees is to protect their natural habitats.  This might mean controlling grazing by herbivores, or banning logging in sensitive areas.  Sometimes a change in cultivation techniques can make a difference.  The Lansan Tree produces a valuable, aromatic resin.  It is endemic to the Windward Islands and its fleshy fruits provide for native pigeons and other wildlife.  The resin is collected (tapped) from the tree by slashing the bark every one-to-two weeks. However, over-tapping for the resin can lead to the trees becoming infected with pathogens, then rotting, or subject to termite attack. The pathogens may spread to untapped trees.  Unregulated tapping and conversion of land from rainforest to agriculture have led to Lansan Tree populations all but disappearing in places. On Saint Lucia, where there is a large but threatened population of Lansan Trees, there is hope after the introduction of a sustainable resin harvesting technique.  This technique does not damage the tree but still allows a good yield of the resin.  This,  coupled with training of licensed resin tappers should protect the trees. Some species have reduced populations because their pollinators have been lost, so fruit and seed production has ceased.  Other species have separate male and female plants (dioecism) and the small populations that remain are represented by only one sex.  This was true for the catkin yew population in Hong Kong, where all the trees were males.  A global search found a female specimen in the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.  Cuttings from the Edinburgh tree have now been planted in a managed site in Hong Kong.  Hopefully when they flower, fruit and seed production will occur;  but it may be a long wait for the young trees to reach sexual maturity.  Another species, the oleander podocarp (Podocarpus neriifolius) has been nursed back to viability by similar techniques. Some rare and isolated trees produce seeds but getting them to germinate is another matter.  Many seeds enter a state of dormancy and have extremely specific requirements for them to germinate and grow on.  In many cases, their needs are simply not known.  The seeds may need a particular temperature regime, or exposure to cold, fire, smoke or light of a particular wavelength. Some seeds may need to travel through the gut of a particular animal before they will germinate.  Sometimes, scientists have used to embryo culture. The embryonic radicle (root) and plumule (shoot) is extracted from a seed and then grown in a sterile nutrient culture medium.  This technique was used at Kew with the ‘lonesome palm’ as attempts to grow its seeds had failed.   Embryo culture resulted in plantlets forming but after a while their roots turned brown and the young plants died.  There are success stories.  A Cypress species Widdringtonia whytei, was reduced to a few trees in Malawi, as a result of illegal logging for timber. Many seedlings have been  planted on Mount Mulanje and  a good number of these have survived. [caption id="attachment_25196" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Entrance to the Millennium Seed Bank[/caption] When and where seeds are actually available, they can be dried or frozen (cryopreservation) and placed in seed banks, for example the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place.   We have to hope that through various interventions, the use of seed banks, botanic gardens and arboreta that we will be able to save many rare and threatened tree species,  you never know when one might be needed.

On the Red List! The capercaillie is threatened.  Its numbers in Scotland have roughly halved (between 2010 and 2020).  It was once widespread, but now it is found in the pine forests of the Highlands - notably the Cairngorms National Park.  It is a red listed species. The decline in numbers is associated with poor breeding success, poor weather in early summer when the chicks are developing, another problem is predation by species such as the pine marten, foxes and crows.  The Game and Wildlife Conservation Centre (GWCT) has identified another issue that these birds face - namely collisions with deer fences.     These fences are created to keep deer out of particular areas.  However, when the capercaillie (and black grouse) impact on these fences, they are injured or killed.  Marking these fences, reduces the number of collisions but does not stop them.  Unmarked fences are still killing adult birds.  Marking of these fences or their removal would help with the survival of the capercaillie, though removal would  mean trees and shrubs would be unprotected from deer. Mosquitoes! There are some 36 different species of mosquitoes to be found in the UK, which  are generally harmless (though they bite).  But that may change.  With longer and warmer summers, the UK may become a venue for other species such as the tiger mosquito.   This insect has been found in ‘traps’ (monitored by the UK Health Security Agency) at ports and rail terminals.  This insect is known to transmit various diseases, such as dengue fever.  The mosquito was found in Italy in 1990 and it is spreading on the continent. A species of Culex has also been found in some areas of the Thames estuary - which can spread the West Nile Virus. This virus can result in flu-like symptoms.  Outbreaks have been been mainly in the warmer areas of the Mediterranean, but with climate change and the potential for very hot summers here - vigilance will be needed. Floral defences. Many flowers release a distinctive scent.  The scent serves to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, or  it may ward off pests that would feed upon the plant.. Many of the chemicals that contribute to scents are terpenes.  Recent research has investigated how these chemicals can affect the growth and development of butterflies - using painted lady butterflies.  These butterflies feed on a wide range of plants and hence are exposed to a variety of scents / terpenes. For these experiments, the researcher (at the University of Centra Florida) used four common floral terpenes  Limonene :  which has a fresh, citrus like smell Linalool. : has a floral scent, reminiscent of lavender Cineole : has a camphor-like smell, slightly medicinal contributes to eucalyptus oil. β caryophyllene : this has a spicy / woody fragrance. Different amounts of these terpenes were fed to caterpillars of the painted lady butterfly, and the subsequent development of the caterpillars was monitored and the size of the adults recorded.  The experiment was also conducted at different temperatures.  Temperature affects scent release by flowers. Higher levels of terpenes has significant affects on the survival of the caterpillars, especially when combined with the higher temperatures.  The caterpillars took longer to enter into pupation when given high levels of terpenes, though the size of the adults that emerged from pupation was unaffected.  If longer and warmer summers become more common, the combined effects of terpenes and heat could become important determinants of development. `

Anyone who has worked with us at Hive Cleaning, knows that sustainability is one of our most important guiding principles, along with being an ethical employer and exceptional cleaning standards.  We take sustainability ambitions seriously and have reduced our direct emissions to zero and are on track to reach Net Zero in 2025.   However, we didn’t want to just focus on our day to day operations (being technically ‘green’) but wanted a direct involvement with nature and natural ecosystems; that’s how our idea of a reforestation project was born.  We fell in love with a meadow (near Clovelly, in North Devon), a beautiful part of the world.  The meadow has stunning views and we could immediately imagine how tree planting in the meadow could further enhance the biodiversity and beauty of the area. [caption id="attachment_40611" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Hive Wood Sign[/caption] We have renamed Rosedawn Meadow to Hive Wood, and we are planning to plant over eight thousand trees over the next 15 years. As a part of our wider ESG strategy (this documents the company's impact on the environment) , we are committed to : ● Recreate historic hedgerows around the boundary ● Only planting local native broadleaf tree species ● Measuring the sequestered carbon via Carbon Trust ● Never selling the carbon credits ● Never felling the trees (except where necessary in terms of  managing the wood) ● Improving biodiversity and creating a haven for flora & fauna ● Using Hive Wood to promote biodiversity and carbon reduction / sequestration. We started the planting the trees and the hedgerow in March, this year.  So far, we have planted eight native species:  sycamore,  rowan,  white  poplar,  sessile oak,  buckthorn,  black alder,  blackthorn and  hornbeam.