Ask me Questions

[redflex]

Okay after reading the thread I thought I try something different.
I have work in UK forests as forester, ranger a bit of ecological work for over 10 years and studied them as at University as well.

I claim to be no expert but know a few things i thought i like to share them with you guys but did not no where to start.

So my idea is you ask me what you like to know about Britains woods and forest I will see if I can answer them or ask one of my contacts who may know something about it so please ask me will try my best others are more than welcome to answer anything asked.

[JonnyP]

OK....What is the biggest woodland in Britain.....?

[stovie]

OK....What is the biggest woodland in Britain.....?

Kielder forest?????

Just a guess. But it felt big when I was a kid.....

[pierre girard]

Is English yew a conifer? I have some odd conifer trees, or maybe more like large bushes, back in the woods by my place, which we've always called ground hemlock and have just discovered they are also known as Canadian yew.

Whenever I'd read of "bows of yew" and all that - I'd always pictured a decideous tree for some reason.

Is the Canadian yew similar to the English yew?

PG

[stovie]

Is English yew a conifer? ...

Whenever I'd read of "bows of yew" and all that - I'd always pictured a decideous tree for some reason.

Is the Canadian yew similar to the English yew?

PG

Not sure about the last statement, but Yew is an evergreen....Does that make it a conifer????

[JonnyP]

Kielder forest?????

Just a guess. But it felt big when I was a kid.....

But the wood at the bottom of my garden was the biggest wood in Britain, when I was a kid......You could be right though.....

[stovie]

But the wood at the bottom of my garden was the biggest wood in Britain, when I was a kid......You could be right though.....

My dad was a privateer in the RAC ralley in those days. Our family car, a Ford Anglia, had a full roll cage and completed several RACs. the highlight of my childhood was tearing through a stage in Kielder late at night with my dad at the wheel, and me "kacking" myself.....

The other highlight was my sister sitting on a Red Ant nest at two in the morning

[redflex]

there are 3 native conifers

Yew (Taxus baccata), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and juniper (Juniperus phoenicea)

The biggest woodland is hard to define as a wood can actual be on several different peoples land so they are classed as different woods, for example between Hereford and leominster there is a large track of broadleaf woodland but this is techincally several adjoining not one big wood

The large tree covered areas such as the Kielder Lake District are mainly made up of plantations so dont count as woodland.
Same goes for places like the Forest of Dean which contain several woods, forest areas etc.

As for the actual biggest wood I think I know but double checking with a mate so will let you know asap.

[Fallow Way]

"Is English yew a conifer?"

Short answer yes,....long answer..........

The Yew family, Taxaceae, is part of the Pinales Order, formeraly the Coniferales. All Pinales produce a cone as their reproductive method. Origially the Yew family was seperate Order, but has now been included in the Pinales through research into it`s genetic past.

Conifers, commonly, are seen as equvilant to Gymnosperms, very basically meaning a naked seed. I say commonly because there are other forms of Gymnosperms such as the broadleaf Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree).

[clowne]

Not sure of the term "woodland" but Whitwell woods nottinghamshire, near us claims to be the largest wood in europe but i think thats to do with the term "wood" as its not that big.

[bilko]

What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?
Is it true that the largest living organism (insert right word ) is a group of trees. Ash maybe and what/where are they?
Not a trick question but something i have in my head and want to get it right.
Something to do with their root system being connected.

[leon-b]

what is the biggest tree in england?
leon

[JonnyP]

what is the biggest tree in england?
leon

Good one, I would like to know that, will it be a redwood somewhere I wonder...

[British Red]

Is English yew a conifer? I have some odd conifer trees, or maybe more like large bushes, back in the woods by my place, which we've always called ground hemlock and have just discovered they are also known as Canadian yew.

Whenever I'd read of "bows of yew" and all that - I'd always pictured a decideous tree for some reason.

Is the Canadian yew similar to the English yew?

PG

They get to be big trees Pierre although they are slow growing

This old boy was in the ground a few hundred years back



Red

[Goose]

What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?
Is it true that the largest living organism (insert right word ) is a group of trees. Ash maybe and what/where are they?
Not a trick question but something i have in my head and want to get it right.
Something to do with their root system being connected.

A butterfly rests with wings closed, a moth with them open. A moth has feathery antennae and a butterfly has knobs!
The largest living organism thing, do you mean the largest "clone"? I read that Japanese Knotweed has some sort of record as all Japanese knotweed in Europe is Female(possibly male but one sex at any rate!) and therefore has spread without breeding, by cuttings, to the coverage it has now! God knows how the problem would spread if it started breeding!

[BOD]

I was told that "hardwood" and "softwood" do not refer to the hardness or softness of the wood but to type. Why the difference and what is the logic behind it?

[rich59]

What might the common ancestor of the willow and the oak look like? Was it a tree? When did it live?

[Fenlander]

A butterfly rests with wings closed, a moth with them open. A moth has feathery antennae and a butterfly has knobs!

This is a butterfly
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community...49&postcount=1

and this is a moth
Moth

[Goose]

This is a butterfly
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community...49&postcount=1

and this is a moth
Moth

They must be hybrids or something!
Didn't realise there were exceptions to that rule, or is it just the moment of the picture?

[loz.]

Hi,

No Pic - Sorry but found a pile - yes a pile of very slimy dark brown fungi this weekend in the park. Was circular and flat in shape, and looked solid,

pulled apart showed it was fibrous, and looked to have texture of raw fish, however was very, very slimy and oozed when gravity took it.

Was on the floor attached to base of an oak

Any Clues ?

Ill try to get pic when i can

Loz

[Marts]

Is it true that the largest living organism (insert right word ) is a group of trees.

I think the largest living organism is a fungi.

Officially known as Armillaria ostoyae, or the honey mushroom, the fungus is 3.5 miles across and takes up 1,665 football fields

[loz.]

I think the largest living organism is a fungi.

Officially known as Armillaria ostoyae, or the honey mushroom, the fungus is 3.5 miles across and takes up 1,665 football fields

And it edible !!!

link to solve world food shortages !

[loz.]

What might the common ancestor of the willow and the oak look like? Was it a tree? When did it live?

The Parents

[Goose]

And it edible !!!

link to solve world food shortages !

At 2400 years old it is a bit of a long term investment though!

[rich59]

The Parents

Naa, thats my great great grand parents. Anyone know a good place to find a detailed evolutionary tree of the green plant kingdom?

[Hunter_zero]

Okay after reading the thread I thought I try something different.
I have work in UK forests as forester, ranger a bit of ecological work for over 10 years and studied them as at University as well.

I claim to be no expert but know a few things i thought i like to share them with you guys but did not no where to start.

So my idea is you ask me what you like to know about Britains woods and forest I will see if I can answer them or ask one of my contacts who may know something about it so please ask me will try my best others are more than welcome to answer anything asked.

Do you know of any Deer managment / stalking leases ?

John

[pothunter]

Hi Hunter Zero

Also looking for some good stalking not interested in out and out managment culling, how far are you prepared to travel, SE Scotland any good? Are you interested in a joint venture?

Best regards, Pothunter.

[Stumpy]

From your experience in the woodlands & forests, can you tell the difference between Red squirrel & Grey Squirrel Dreys? If so, can you enlighten me as to the difference.

[Hunter_zero]

Hi Hunter Zero

Also looking for some good stalking not interested in out and out managment culling, how far are you prepared to travel, SE Scotland any good? Are you interested in a joint venture?

Best regards, Pothunter.

Problem with Scotland is the distance. I have a patch up there (many places will let you stalk for free) but the cost of travel and the hassle bringing back a carcass makes it a poor place IMHO.

I have a patch in North Devon, costs £166 per year (might be a place opening up if your stuck).

I've been looking around the forest of dean for sometime but can not find anyone willing to lease. I much prefer to lease. One it's safer and second, you know your the only stalker on the land.
In general I have two or three leases running at anyone time. Formal contractual leases that is. There are a few farms over this way that will let you stalk Fallow for £5 per stalk but it's hit and miss. There could be another ten stalkers in the bushes on the same day.

Everything aside, I'm always interested in stalking.

John

[falling rain]

Okay after reading the thread I thought I try something different.
I have work in UK forests as forester, ranger a bit of ecological work for over 10 years and studied them as at University as well.

I claim to be no expert but know a few things i thought i like to share them with you guys but did not no where to start.

So my idea is you ask me what you like to know about Britains woods and forest I will see if I can answer them or ask one of my contacts who may know something about it so please ask me will try my best others are more than welcome to answer anything asked.

There are many flowers and plants that are described as ancient woodland Indicators - Wood Anemone being one, and my all time favourite flower. There are many others such as wild daffodil , bluebells and a good list is here - http://www.shropshirebotany.org.uk/h...ndicators.html my question Redflex is - Can you tell me which ancient woodland indicator species (plants, not trees for now) are the most reliable to indicate ancient woodland. There are a lot of species on the list on my link that I've seen growing in places that are quite obviously not ancient woodland (although it may have been years ago I suppose) like wild strawberry for example that I've seen growing in fields that must have been ploughed hundreds of times and I would have thought been irradicated. So which ones are truly the very best indicators of ancient woodland?