Woodlands.co.uk

Blog - deer

Holly - a really useful tree

Holly – a really useful tree

by Chris, 8 December, 2011, 1 comments

In various older texts on botany and gardening, it is said that ' … in Germany, Holly abounds in many forests… In France, it is abundant, more particularly in Brittany.  The tree appears to attain a larger size in England than in other parts of Europe"  Certainly, in the past there were large areas where Holly was abundant. For example, Needwood Forest in Staffordshire. This was a significant and ancient Midlands forest. However, the Enclosure Act of 1803 allowed for the felling of large numbers of trees; this took some time to complete.  In his ‘Plant Book’, Professor David Mabberley notes that some 150,000 holly trees were taken from Needwood about this time, to provide bobbins for the cotton mills of Lancashire.  (Bagot’s Wood is said to be the largest existing piece of this ancient wood). 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...
Ancient woodland part 2

Ancient woodland part 2

by Chris, 2 December, 2010, 0 comments

The wholesale destruction of ancient woodland through farming and forestry has diminished but new roads,  bypasses and the installation of infra-structure & services (such as utilities & power lines) can still be a problem.  In recent times, new or different threats to ancient woodlands have emerged to upset the balance of woodland ecosystems. In the 1960’s and early 70’s concern focussed on the effects of air and acid rain pollution .  Such pollution was characterised by the deposition of sulphur dioxide and its derivatives (sulphuric & sulphurous acid), plus various nitrogen oxides. Read more...
Welsh Battle over Badgers Begins

Welsh Battle over Badgers Begins

by Angus, 24 June, 2010, 10 comments

Do badgers spread Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) and, if so, is it sensible to kill the badgers to reduce losses to dairy farmers?  On these issues,  a great argument has been raging for several years but there are now likely to be a series of skirmishes on the ground in West Wales. Read more...
Nightingales

Nightingales

by Chris, 16 May, 2010, 11 comments

Nightingales are migratory birds and fly into the U.K. in the Spring, having spent the winter in Africa. The nightingale is particularly well known for its song; (a wma file of which can be found here).  However, not everybody in the UK is likely to hear them singing.  It is not found in Scotland or Wales, and in other places its numbers have fallen quite dramatically.  It is now mainly found in the South-East, especially Kent, Sussex, Suffolk and Norfolk. A sighting is unlikely; nightingales are shy, drab brown birds who seek the dense vegetation described below. Read more...
Deer Stalking and Woodlands

Deer Stalking and Woodlands

by James, 12 June, 2009, 10 comments

Woodland owner and occasional deer stalker, James, gives us his personal views and advice on deer management gained from his own experience. Like many woodland owners we have deer in our woodland.  The deer population in the UK is increasing rapidly and woodland owners need to consider a number of issues when dealing with deer stalkers or those offering deer management services. Building a relationship with a good, reliable deer stalker can be very beneficial.  Besides controlling the deer population, he can keep an eye on things when you are not around, and may well be able to help out with odd jobs and other pest control.  However, there are a lot more stalkers – most of them amateur or recreational - than stalking opportunities, and it pays to take a little bit of care over whom you choose.  Read more...
Wild Boar and Woodland Regeneration

Wild Boar and Woodland Regeneration

by catherine, 24 April, 2009, 6 comments

Despite their reputation for causing damage, it might be time to review the notoriety of the wild boar.  The very thing that makes farmers and landowners in Kent and Sussex shudder, can also help regenerate woodland.   Despite being a native of the British Isles, wild boar have not been seen in this country in any great number since medieval times, probably hunted out.  James I and Charles I attempted to reintroduce to them to royal parks for hunting, but not with much success.  By the late 17th century, they had cross-bred with domestic pigs to extinction.  Read more...
Brambles (Rubus fruticosus)

Brambles (Rubus fruticosus)

by Chris, 14 December, 2008, 28 comments

The bramble is a common native species. It is found in many different types of plant communities from woodlands, to heaths and dunes though it is not found in native pine woodland, and is generally more common in lowland than upland woods. Read more...

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Wild Flower Guide

Badger
Read our guide to wild flowers of woodland and hedgerow

Topics

Tags