Garden Tool Set

Date Photographed: 25/04/2013
Location: Pound Lane, Bradford on Avon
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/ashes/nbnsys0000003949

Date Photographed: 02/06/2013
Location: King George V, Melksham
Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataegus_monogyna
Notes: Many hybrids of C. monogyna × C. laevigata are known.

Date Photographed: 16/05/2013
Location: Lowbourne, Melksham
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/horsechestnut/nbnsys0000004580

Date Photographed: 16/02/2013
Location: Reculver, Kent
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/pines/nbnsys0000004629

Date Photographed: 06/05/2013
Location: Silverstreet Wood, Westbrook
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/birches/nbnsys0000003827

Date Photographed: 16/05/2013
Location: Prickmoor Wood, Westbrook
Notes: I have included this photograph to show that as a silver birch matures, the bark becomes rather cracked and not like the lovely smooth bark of the younger tree.

Date Photographed: 23/03/2013
Location: Westonbirt Arboretum
Resources: http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Taxus-baccata.htm

Date Photographed: 14/02/2013
Location: King George V park, Melksham
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/alder/Alder

It was Ray Mears, many years ago, that first piqued my interest in Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as scots pine. Using this beautiful tree for a wide array of tasks for his bushcraft, from pine needle tea, to using old dead pine for kindling due to the build up of resin.

This reddy-grey-brown bark is beautifully intricate with a layer of ridged scales. In between these scales are places for invertebrates and flora to live, such as moss, which (to my eye) creates a lovely tortoise shell effect.
Pinus is the largest genus of conifers, with over 100 species. The scots pine is the only conifer native to Britain that is grown commercially for timber. In the old days it was used for things like ships and waterwheels. The late seventeenth century saw the great forests of Scotland ransacked, first for charcoal for the iron foundaries in the lowlands, then for the Napoleonic Wars and the demand for timber. These days, the pines are managed much more successfully and on the increase. Scots pine is still used in many applications, from furniture to telegraph poles and from paper pulp to roof timbers.

Scots pine can grow to over 30 metres in height and over 1 metre diameter. Some of these trees can live to 300 years - although some are said to be 700 years in age. Pollen records have shown that pine was present, at least in southern England, 9000 years ago and reach Scotland around 8000 year ago (possibly over the land bridge that was Doggerland).

In you're ever on the look out for squirrels in a pine woodland, then it's helpful to look at the forest floor. If squirrels are present you will see chewed up pine cone with all the scales taken off - and clearly no further use in telling the weather!

Wandering through a natural (or naturally planted) pine woodland is a wonderful experience. However, due to the commercial nature of many pine woodlands, the tree are planted in rows and are all of similar ages. Places like Brownsea Island, a refuge of the red squirrels of England, have naturalistic planting and are keen to ensure a stock of trees at all life stages.

Date Photographed: 03/06/2013
Location: Conigre Mead, Melksham
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/viburnums/nbnsys0000004328

Dated Photographed: 10 & 14/02/2013
Location: Conigre Mead, Melksham
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/hazels/nbnsys0000003839

Date Photographed: 01/06/2013
Location: Hope Nature Centre, Wiltshire
Resources: http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/horsechestnut/nhmsys0000455625
Notes: This tree was created as a hybrid between Horse-chestnut and Red Buckeye. Sometimes the flowers on this tree start off creamy white and mature to pink or red.