Gabriel Hemery's Blog: Gabriel Hemery, page 14

Sponsorship of a Short Story (1)

The publication of my latest book Tall Trees Short Stories has been supported in part by two companies which have generously sponsored a tale within the book. The first of these that I can publicly acknowledge is Woodlands.co.uk.

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Woodlands.co.uk helps individuals and families buy their own woodlands and enjoy looking after them

It is good finally to talk publicly about the generous sponsorship provided by Woodlands.co.uk for one of the 25 tales featured in Tall Trees Short Stories. The family-based business loved the idea of supporting a short story and director Angus Hanton thought the tale of a whole forest which disappears overnight was ‘fun and meaningful’. The story sponsored is titled The Great Forest Heist.

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The Great Forest Heist — a tale within
Tall Trees Short Stories sponsored by Woodlands.co.uk

“fun and meaningful”

Angus Hanton, Woodlands.co.uk

Woodlands.co.uk also supports an active group for woodland owners and others with an interest in woodland matters called the Small Woodland Owners Group or SWOG. It was great to see the story mentioned in its recent newsletter, which included a free download of the story for their members (I wrote this specifically for its members).

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If you have an interest in woodland management and related matters, I encourage you to sign up (it’s free!) as editor Judith Millidge does a wonderful job editing the excellent Living Woods magazine.

Visit swog.org.uk

Declaration: Gabriel Hemery was not paid to write this article, nor was it a condition of the sponsorship offered for a story within Tall Trees Short Stories. This article was freely written without editorial influence and represents the author’s personal points of view.

Press Release #20 - TALL TREES SHORT STORIES

A major partnership has been announced between local nature and Gabriel Hemery. The deal follows a period of unprecedented curiosity among wild creatures of every domain about the recent downturn in human activity.



Speaking from his official residence in Forest Row, a spokesman for the partnership, Mr P Oak said:

‘We’ve been delighted to lend our support to this intriguing project and leafing through the final publication has certainly shed some light on the human condition.’ Penfold Oak

The ground-breaking book, to be released next month, will be the first product of the unusual collaboration. Tall Trees Short Stories explores humankind’s relationship with the natural word from almost every perspective and through multiple genres.

The announcement coincides with the global release, on Thursday 7th May 19:15 GMT, of the hugely anticipated film trailer (see: https://youtu.be/X5tE2HYZbA0) which the partnership has been working on, under tight security, over recent months. There have however, been rumours of disquiet among the main protagonists. When asked to comment, the film’s scientific advisor Dr B Owl responded:

‘Whilst I have been pleased to have been associated with this project, it is true that I have not always seen eye-to-eye with the Creative Director.’ Dr Barnard Owl

One of the main leads in the film, Miss Vixen—formerly known as “Foxy Lady”—was recently heard barking negative comments in public. The Creative Director, who has sought to secure his anonymity, released a public statement in response:

‘It is true that some actors have expressed concern that they were coerced into taking part in the film, but I am confident the majority have been only too happy to promote the wonderfully creative outcome.’ Anon., Creative Director

Over recent days a number of those active within the partnership have issued a chorus of support, including:

‘I’m going absolutely nuts about this’ – Mrs J Regia
‘Blooming marvellous’ – Mr P Avium
‘Truly multi-talonted’ – Kite & Hawk Ltd

Notes for Editors
The global trailer premier will released on this YouTube channel https://youtu.be/X5tE2HYZbA0 on Thursday 7th May at 0915 GMT

Further information about the project can be found here https://gabrielhemery.com/press-relea...

Press Release #20

A major partnership has been announced between local nature and author Gabriel Hemery. The deal follows a period of unprecedented curiosity among wild creatures of every domain about the recent downturn in human activity.

Speaking from his official residence in Forest Row, a spokesman for the partnership, Mr P Oak said:

‘We’ve been delighted to lend our support to this intriguing project and leafing through the final publication has certainly shed some light on the human condition.’

Penfold Oak

The ground-breaking book, to be released next month, will be the first product of the unusual collaboration. Tall Trees Short Stories explores humankind’s relationship with the natural word from almost every perspective and through multiple genres.

The announcement coincides with the global release, on Thursday 7th May 19:15 GMT, of the hugely anticipated film trailer which the partnership has been working on, under tight security, over recent months. There have however, been rumours of disquiet among the main protagonists. When asked to comment, the film’s scientific advisor Dr B Owl responded:

‘Whilst I have been pleased to have been associated with this project, it is true that I have not always seen eye-to-eye with the Creative Director.’

Dr Barnard Owl

One of the main leads in the film, Miss Vixen—formerly known as “Foxy Lady”—was recently heard barking negative comments in public. The Creative Director, who has sought to secure his anonymity, released a public statement in response:

‘It is true that some actors have expressed concern that they were coerced into taking part in the film, but I am confident the majority have been only too happy to promote the wonderfully creative outcome.’

Anon., Creative Director

Over recent days a number of those active within the partnership have issued a chorus of support, including:

‘I’m going absolutely nuts about this’ – Mrs J Regia‘Blooming marvellous’ – Mr P Avium‘Truly multi-talonted’ – Kite & Hawk Ltd







Notes for Editors

The global trailer premier will released on this YouTube channel on Thursday 7th May at 0915 GMT

Further information about the project can be found here

All media enquiries should be directed to Gabriel Hemery

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TALL TREES SHORT STORIES – coming June 2020

[image error] Tall Trees Short Stories trailer

Discover Your Environmental Self

Are you a Musketeer, Team Player, Funambulist, Existentialist or Realist? Discover your own ECOTYPE and find out how you compare to others in this exciting new measure of environmental citizenship.

For the last couple of years (longer than I care to admit) I’ve been working on a project that could assess people’s environmental beliefs. Not just whether people have pro environmental beliefs or not, but to characterise their beliefs according to five main ‘ecotypes.’

Why did I take so long to develop this? Naturally, I wanted to make sure that the social science behind the ECOTYPE assessments was robust. I was also keen to create a scheme that would send participants a certificate and a personalised report. This, I found out, was a lot harder to do than I thought, at least without employing a software coder.

I’m delighted to announce the launch of the ECOTYPE project today, hosted on a separate website at www.ecotype.earth. This may turn out to be a beta version, dependent on the feedback I receive from users, if the system can deal with the responses, and so on. In time, I hope to gather good data from visitors around the world and to collaborate with other environmental sociologists to conduct research.

Now it’s your turn to have a go! Complete the ECOTYPE survey and discover your environmental self. It’s simple to complete the survey, and you’ll receive a free certificate and two-page personalised report.

Discover your ECOTYPE

[image error] www.Ecotype.earth

A Walnut Wonder

Recently I returned to a stand of walnut hybrid trees I planted some years ago. I was impressed with the quality of the trees. This tree in particular exhibits all the features you want if you’re interested in growing walnut trees for their timber.

A Walnut Wonder



Desirable Features

This hybrid walnut is a variety made by crossing a black walnut Juglans nigra with common walnut Juglans regia. This particular commercial variety has the enticing name ‘NG23’.

late to leaf – this means it’s less likely to be damaged by late-spring forestslight and horizontal branching – making it easy to prune leaving small knotsstraight stem – free of defects and tensionstrong apical dominance – no forking requiring heavy pruning

Notice how this tree’s been given plenty of space and light. Alternatively, you could encourage a shrub layer to grow underneath, particularly if it’s nitrogen-fixing so it will feed the walnuts.

Calling All British Foresters, Land Owners and Businesses

The Sylva Foundation has launched its national survey exploring attitudes, actions and awareness to environmental change. The British Woodlands Survey is aimed at forestry professionals, land agents, tree nurseries and timber businesses, and private woodland owners.

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take part in the survey

The British Woodlands Survey has become an important vehicle giving a voice to the practitioner, with the results of the survey commonly cited among government departments and decision makers of some influential organisations.

You can read more about the British Woodlands Survey on the Sylva Foundation website, and take part in the survey here.

Peter Savill Award

I have received the astounding news that I’ve been honoured by Woodland Heritage this year to receive the Peter Savill Award jointly with Professor Julian Evans, for making a significant contribution to the British Forest Industry.

Regular readers will know that I had a close working relationship with Dr Peter Savill, Oxford University lecturer, silviculturist, and author who sadly died last year (read more).

I am humbled and hugely honoured by the award. My thoughts go instantly to Peter who I hope would have approved. As my academic supervisor during my DPhil research at Oxford University he supported me through three of the most exhilarating, expansive, and challenging years of my life. Ever since, it was a great privilege working closely alongside him as my career developed and we worked together on projects, research, and establishing the Sylva Foundation.

My thanks to the trustees of Woodland Heritage.

[image error] Woodland Heritage

PAST WINNERS OF THE PETER SAVILL AWARD

2019 Sir Harry Studholme2018 Prof A R (Jo) Bradwell2017 Gary Battell2016 Dr Joan Webber2015 Bede Howell2014 Felix Dennis2013 Miles Barne2012 Dr Christine Cahalan2011 Keith Rawling2010 Will Bullough & Gavin Munro (joint award)2009 John McHardy2008 Andy Poore2007 Susan Bell OBE

Review of Green Gold

I’m grateful to THE ROYAL SCOTTISH FORESTRY SOCIETY and reviewer Syd House for the review of Green Gold published this spring.

a style which will be comfortable for non-plant readers as well as informed enthusiasts

the absence of records allows the author to tell a tale of adventure, disaster, romance and salvation, wrapped around botanical exploration. He weaves not only between two continents but also between the past
and the present, keeping the reader alert as to exactly where they
are at any given point! This blend of ‘faction’ does not always work,
but in this book it does, and to the reader’s benefit

Syd House, Scottish Forestry, Vol.74, No.1 Spring 2020

[image error] Green Gold: The Epic True Story of Victorian Plant Hunter John Jeffrey by Gabriel Hemery

A Nature Walk

I’m often asked about the equipment I use for nature watching, my photography and to make my sound recordings. Earlier today I made a short film during which I reveal how much I manage to fit in a small bag.

I hope you enjoy the film. Do add comments here or on my YouTube channel.

The bag I used is the British make Billingham, and the model is the Hadley Pro. See it here on Wex Photographic (affiliated link). Read more about my photographic equipment.

If you enjoyed the brief sound of the male blackcap in full song in the video, you can listen to an extended recording below. The bird, which is a type of warbler, arrives in Britain early each spring. You’ll notice that it has a burst of song every 15 seconds or so. In between, you can hear other woodland birds including magpie, robin, wood pigeon, buzzard, and jay. Moments before I turned on the recorder, I heard a tawny owl but sadly it didn’t call again while I was recording.

Ash or Oak?

Weatherlore says that if an oak leafs before an ash then we will have a dry summer:

If the oak before the ash,
Then we’ll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we’ll surely have a soak!

There’s some good science behind this old saying. But what about the tree outside the window of your place of isolation, or along your daily permitted exercise route? Don’t let Covid-19 get in the way of some good citizen science! Which tree is out in leaf first near you?

[image error]An oak tree (bottom left) before three ash trees at different leafing stages



Complete the Survey

Take part in my simple survey, and I’ll update the map below regularly each day during April to present ‘live’ results.

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Daily Results

Here are the live results. Please note that I’ll be updating the map twice a day, so be patient waiting for your data to become visible. Click on the arrow top left above the map to show the map key.

Thanks for taking part!