Blog - water

tulip - open and closed

Plants on the move …..

by Lewis, 25 April, 2019, 1 comments

In 1880, Darwin wrote a book entitled “The power of movement in Plants” in which he described many examples of the “sleep movement’ of plants. He noted that some flowers closed up at night (e.g. crocuses, tulips, poppies), whilst other plants had leaves that moved or closed up at night time. He recorded that the pea and bean family (legumes / fabaceae) had a number of species that exhibited these ‘sleep movements”. Movement in plants is achieved either through growth or through changes in the water content of cells (the turgidity of cells). Phototropism is an example of an irreversible growth response Read more...

Bushcraft and survival skills at the Ultimate Activity Company, near Hereford

Bushcraft and survival skills at the Ultimate Activity Company, near Hereford

by Angus, 28 March, 2019, 3 comments

I’ve never opened a tampon before, so my newfound friend Tamsin showed me how. Then I started unpeeling it to find it’s really just compacted cotton wool. Tampons turn out to be ideal for lighting a fire if you don’t have matches because they are really compressed cotton wool and can be lit with a small spark. I did have a fire steel in my survival kit box and just like our friendships, we were soon creating sparks and warming up. We were at the Ultimate Activity Company’s short course on what to do in the wild when things go awry. Andy, our trainer, with his background as a marine, explained the imaginary position we were in: on a sailing trip eight of us had moored our boat in a sheltered sea loch on the west coast of Scotland and during the night the wind riled up causing the boat to hit a rock. It sank, leaving us just enough time to get off with little more than what we stood up in (along with my survival kit in a watertight tin). Two of the crew had gone off to get help - leaving six of us to survive outdoors, perhaps for several days. Read more...

What has cheese-making got to do with woodland management?

What has cheese-making got to do with woodland management?

by Angus, 5 September, 2014, 2 comments

Visiting a Swiss cheese-making enterprise in the canton of Fribourg near to Gruyere made me think about the ways that the art of making cheese is a bit like aspects of forestry and managing woodland. Alexandre Guez-Volery has been making cheese for 24 years and takes great pride in the quality of what he produces. Read more...

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Services

by Lewis, 22 August, 2013, 1 comments

We are all dependent on ecosystem services even if we are not quite sure what they are. At the most basic of levels, early humans benefitted from the products of nature (fruits and seeds to eat, animals to hunt) - that is, food or provisioning . Shelter from the harsher aspects of climate and weather was also needed and provided; be it by the canopy of woodlands and forests, or the branches and other materials in woodlands used to make a simple shelter. Ecosystem services permeate every aspect of our lives. Take soil, for example ‘Where would we be without fertile soil ?’ Obviously fertile soils provide us with the best conditions for our agricultural crops and for maximising growth in our greenhouses and orchards, but beyond that soil has many important functions. The organic material of the soil, humus, can absorb and retain water. It plays a vital role is the regulation of water run-off. Read more...

Wooden gutters, shingles and downpipes

Wooden gutters, shingles and downpipes

by Peter, 17 January, 2013, 6 comments

Making gutters out of wood was traditional in most countries before the widespread use of metal and plastic made these a rarity. But some people still use them to keep buildings looking as they would have been in the past and, actually, they work very well. Certain woods work better than others - for example Scots pine, sweet chestnut and elm. In Germany and America, pitch pine (Pinus rigida) was widely used for wooden gutters because of its high resin content. Read more...

Creating a woodland pond and encouraging pond life.

Creating a woodland pond and encouraging pond life.

by Angus, 27 March, 2012, 3 comments

Pond building in woodland is more than just digging a big hole. It is very much about creating a habitat, which is varied but which actually keeps the water in. Over the last month or so, we have been digging a large wildlife pond in Kent not only for wildlife but also for enjoyment. We wanted an expanse of water that would be big enough for some canoeing and paddling around in small boats. To do the job, we employed a pair of digger drivers with their machines but we were very much involved in the design and practicalities. I knew several people who had dug ponds and lakes but in this case I particularly wanted something with an island; hoping that this could be a protected area for bird nesting - as well as an interesting feature. Read more...

Wet Woodland - Carr

Wet Woodland – Carr

by catherine, 17 October, 2008, 2 comments

No-one likes getting their feet damp, but wet woodland has its place and is certainly valuable from the perspective of diversifying habitat. Read more...

Woodlands and Water

Woodlands and Water

by Michael, 4 July, 2008, 1 comments

Everyone knows the role of trees in alleviating carbon dioxide and climate change , but less well known is their ability to clean water and control flooding. The Woodland Trust has just published an interesting new report on the role of woodlands in water management. They say, “Conserving and restoring native woods, and creating new ones, can improve water quality, reduce localised flooding, and may alleviate the effects of larger floods.” They estimate that native woodland planted in the right place has the ability to mitigate flooding and reduce pollution by up to 90%! Read more...

Wild Flower Guide

Badger

Read our guide to wild flowers of woodland and hedgerow

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