Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/native-spring-flowering-bulbs/
Spring is a very important season for wildlife gardening. Early spring flowers are vital for early insects and the birds that feed on them. Native wildflower bulbs tend to flower in the spring and there is a wide range of wonderful native spring-flowering bulbs that you can use in your garden and beyond. These include […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/native-trees-in-your-garden/
Longing for a break from bustling city life? Want to relax in the shade and take a deep breath of clean air while listening to lovely birdsong, but don’t have enough time for a trip to a woodland? Why not escape to a breathing space in your own garden? An essential part of creating any […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/why-fell-trees/
Tree felling is a positive management technique which increases the health and diversity of trees and their associated wildlife within woods. It should be carried out as part of a management plan based on scientific research of the effects caused, and should be appropriate to the species concerned. Felling trees in the name of conservation […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/coppicing-cut-trees-conservation/
Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management that has shaped many of the remaining semi-natural woodlands in the UK. Periodic cutting actually prolongs the life of the tree as well as creating a rich mosaic of habitats, attracting a wide range of flora and fauna. Woods that have not been coppiced tend to be […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/why-plant-trees/
In recent decades there have been a number of important stimuli for tree planting, including the loss of hedgerow elms to disease, the millennium and, perhaps most dramatically, the estimated 15 million trees uprooted during the storm of 16 October 1987. Native tree species blend in most effectively into the rural landscape. However, the most […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/select-trees-new-native-woodland/
If you’re planting a new native woodland, you’ll need to decide what species to plant. With native trees, some may be readily available from a local nursery, while others may not – but you could always choose to grow native tree species from seed. The species chosen should be native to the local area. You […]
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Ancient woodlands represent our closest link with the ‘wildwood’ of prehistory. The small fragments of ancient semi-natural woodland that still exist in Northern Ireland provide a home for our natural flora and fauna; the birds, mammals, invertebrates, mosses and lichens, fungi, and plants that are associated with them. The ice age ends and climate warms […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/how-fell-trees/
Felling non-native species to retain the character of a woodland can involve anything from pruning and removing saplings to full-scale felling of a mature tree. The trunks are snedded before being logged up to provide usable timber. Hands-on techniques for felling trees Basic Felling Techniques Note: on this page, ‘front’ and ‘back’ are arbitrary terms, […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/how-plant-trees/
The process of planting a young tree is not difficult or time-consuming. But it must be done properly and with care. The success of planting will depend on choosing the right species for the site and on providing an environment in which the young trees will thrive. Hands-on techniques for planting a tree Choose the […]
Printed from: https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/how-coppice-trees/
Coppicing, either for conservation or to produce timber involves periodic cutting of trees using traditional felling techniques, stacking the timber afterwards and leaving some brushwood to rot down. Tree identification Correct tree identification is important. Point out any obvious areas of confusion, eg hornbeam and beech in winter. Make certain that everyone knows the species […]
