We are into the ‘Bleak Mid-winter’, but it is always a relief to pass the shortest day, December 21st.
The natural world closes down. The cycle of growth of trees is continuous, leaves fall (very late this Autumn), sap (the life force) goes down but immediately, if you look carefully at the branches, the buds are forming for new leaves, all looking forward to Spring. Early growth of katkin bearing trees, like hazel and willows, are very important for their pollen for bees and other insects. Now the branches are bare, the distinctive shape of trees shows up, the wiggly irregular oak and the more upright curvy ash Remember the headline story of the Favourite Hadrian’s Wall Sycamore tree that was destroyed? Now experts say it should regrow from the root bole left, and sycamore keys have been taken to plant and grow from seed – but we tend to take trees for granted until they are cut down. Perhaps we could all adopt a favourite local tree, whether for shape, colour or eccentricity. The odd tree left in a hedgerow now can grow fast and strong without competition.
At Sid’s Piece we have discovered families of newts hibernating in safe places under logs, in early spring they will move to the pond to mate and leave their eggs hidden in the waterside vegetation, where they will develop into tadpoles then baby newts.
Our winter work parties at Sid’s Piece are on the last Sunday of the month, from 10am till 1pm. We would love to have more help. The work party on Sunday 28th January will be harvesting the willow.
Find SWWAG on Facebook
The natural world closes down. The cycle of growth of trees is continuous, leaves fall (very late this Autumn), sap (the life force) goes down but immediately, if you look carefully at the branches, the buds are forming for new leaves, all looking forward to Spring. Early growth of katkin bearing trees, like hazel and willows, are very important for their pollen for bees and other insects. Now the branches are bare, the distinctive shape of trees shows up, the wiggly irregular oak and the more upright curvy ash Remember the headline story of the Favourite Hadrian’s Wall Sycamore tree that was destroyed? Now experts say it should regrow from the root bole left, and sycamore keys have been taken to plant and grow from seed – but we tend to take trees for granted until they are cut down. Perhaps we could all adopt a favourite local tree, whether for shape, colour or eccentricity. The odd tree left in a hedgerow now can grow fast and strong without competition.
At Sid’s Piece we have discovered families of newts hibernating in safe places under logs, in early spring they will move to the pond to mate and leave their eggs hidden in the waterside vegetation, where they will develop into tadpoles then baby newts.
Our winter work parties at Sid’s Piece are on the last Sunday of the month, from 10am till 1pm. We would love to have more help. The work party on Sunday 28th January will be harvesting the willow.
Find SWWAG on Facebook