Characteristics and Interesting Facts The hazel (Corylus) is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere with 14–18 species . The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels (with the hornbeams and allied genera) into a separate family Corylaceae. Hazel requires a winter chilling period of 800 – 1200 hrs below 7 C (45…
To Nuke or Not to Nuke
Humankind today faces three common problems that make a mockery of all national borders, and that can only be solved through global cooperation. These are nuclear war, climate change and technological disruption. Yuval Noah Harari As tensions between India and Pakistan intensifies and US and North Korea fails to reach an agreement on denuclearisation, I…
Tree a Week: Elm
Characteristics and Fun Facts Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae and grows in variety of climatic conditions. There are about 30 to 40 species of Elm The elm tree originated in what is today’s central Asia spreading over most of the Northern Hemisphere. Most commonly…
Tree a Week: Birch
Interesting Facts Birch is in the genus Betula. The birch family Betulaceae contains six genera of deciduous nut bearing trees including birches, alders, hazels, horn beams and hop-hornbeams. There are about 40 species of small to medium trees and shrubs, in Northern temperate climates Average lifespan of the birch is 40-50 years. In favourable conditions,…
Tree a Week: Beech
Characteristics and Fun Facts Beeches are deciduous trees in the Fagaceae family There are 11 species of beech but two well known ones are the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) and the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica). They can be found in North America, Europe and Asia Although often regarded as native in southern England, recent evidence has shown that it…
Meat Paradox
For several years now, I’ve been what is now commonly known as a ‘flexitarian’ – basically mostly eating vegetables with occasional meat. I’ve chosen this way of eating for several reasons. In the order of personal relevance; Worldwide, half of man-made C02 emissions are related to animal agriculture. You can cut down your personal C02…
Tree a Week: Oak
Following on from my last post about Patagonia’s Treeline and Wohlleben’s ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’, this will be the first of a series of post on trees. I’ve always wanted to learn more about trees – how to identify them, it’s uses, a little bit of history and characteristics – and now that I…
Treeline
The winner of Mr Shimasaki’s best cinematography and best documentary award (if there was one) goes to Patagonia’s new film about trees. Superbly shot in the mountains of Japan, British Columbia and Nevada, the sensually framed ancient trees, with insights from scientists, other specialists and a shinto priest, gave me the same feeling of wonder…
Horse Powered Farming
Horses were domesticated about 5,500 years ago and used for agriculture for the last 1000 years. Only a little over a century ago, 90% of all forms of transportation was horse powered. Yet, within a decade after the introduction of internal combustion engine, we shifted dramatically away from the humble animal. From this week, I’m…
Winter Pyrenees
Last weekend, I was invited for a hike over the Pyrenees into Val d’Arran area of Spain by my new local friends. I jumped at the opportunity, dribbling, since I’ve always wanted to try winter alpine climbing but I didn’t know anyone experienced and willing to take a novice like me. But here was someone…
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