Regular Features
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Editors Introduction
Well, no one can say the weather in the United Kingdom is boring and we have no right to complain because it gives us plenty to talk about. However, this year in particular has provided us with more than the average number of spectacles and the repercussions of the floods that spread across many parts of the country will be a discussion point for years to come. I have considered some of the arboricultural implications in an article on page 34.
Meanwhile, I spent the last two months appreciating the spectacular autumn colour that just seemed to get better and better as I took the time to visit as many different sites as I could, so I have tried to sneak a few of the resulting photographs into this issue (pages 10 & 14). The beech woods in autumn have always been a particular favourite of mine, but this year has really been one for the oaks, which have illustrated the incredible diversity that exists even with one species, as differenttrees change colour at completely different times, despite their close proximity.
The Woodland Trust have provided us with some more significant contributions to this issue, with update on the Ancient Tree Hunt (page 10), a call for help with verifiers (page 12) and news about some tree planing in the ancient landscape of Epping Forest (page 14).
Meanwhile also on the topic of ancient trees, there is a report following Ted Green and Jill Butler on their recent trip to Portugal, where they were invited to speak at a conference organised by the Portuguese Society of Arboriculture. Ted came back enthused by the fact that they found both beech trees and English Oak flourishing in the extremes of hot weather that saw summer temperatures well in excess of 35oC, so considered this a good omen for the prospects of the species in the UK facing climate change.
In an article entitled Timber Sales in the Black, David Lloyd-Jones encourages us to make more of the timber from the trees we cut down and what could be more important these days when we are increasingly talking about sustainability and timber resource from local arboricultural contracts could really raise the profile of both urban and rural contracting businesses.
I have continued in this issue to maintain the profile of bats and trees, with an article supported by the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), which promotes their excellent awareness training course for aborists that has been accredited by Lantra and must be some of the most essential continued professional development (CPD) for all arborists (page 22). For example, the training course I am involved in presenting this week will be attended by climbing arborists, tree officers, consultants and tree surveyors, so the candidates are truly coming from all backgrounds of arboriculture.
The Arboricultural Association has given us an important report on a recent success in the challenge to keep up the standards of the arboricultural industry, where a rogue trader was caught in the act and prosecuted. This represents a significant achievement for all concerned and something that should be promoted by all local contracts selling quality service.
Finally, continuing with an emphasis on ecology, we have an article supported by information from the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species looking at one of our most charismatic of native wildlife: the stag beetle (page 42). The supporting photographs were taken in my front garden where I have buried a number of oak logs that are now a breeding gound for a thriving population of these very photogenic insects.
