Gabriel Hemery's Blog: Gabriel Hemery, page 5

Exploring Noble Hardwoods in Sweden

I recently had the great pleasure to be invited as a guest speaker and guide for a special day exploring noble hardwoods, hosted by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) at Alnarp.

I presented a short lecture, and then contributed to discussions in the field for the remainder of the day. The group consisted of students studying for the excellent MSc in Forest Science (read more) at SLU Alnarp, plus forestry technicians, local landowners, and academics from the university.

The group passes in front of one of the buildings at SLU AlnarpLearning about Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna)Looking into the canopy of a Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna) treeA churchyard with Norway maple in Sweden

The noble hardwoods of interest on this day were Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna), wild service (Sorbus torminalis), and walnut, both common (Juglans regia), black (J. nigra), and various walnut hybrids. Noble hardwoods are defined as hardwood tree species which often have very high economic value, but are usually only minor components in the forest. Other noble hardwood species include:

Italian alder (Alnus cordata)black alder (Alnus glutinosa)field maple (Acer campestre)Norweay maple (Acer platanoides)sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)silver birch (Betula pendula)hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia)common ash (Fraxinus excelsior)common walnut (Juglans regia)apple (Malus sylvestris)wild cherry (Prunus avium)common pear (Pyrus pyraster)rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)service tree (Sorbus domestica)field elm (Ulmus minor)wych elm (Ulmus glabra)white elm (Ulmus laevis)

We visited the arboretum and park in the campus of SLU Alnarp which includes a great diversity of interesting tree specimens, plus a nursery containing many forestry trials. Later we visited a private forest to see silvicultural trials of walnut and wild service. We covered a huge range of topics during the day, ranging from soils and climate change, to timber qualities and pruning methods.

SLU Professor of Silviculture J P Skovsgaard discusses the pruning of wild service tree in the forest

Some key take home learnings:

Many of the group were surprised by the stature of the Turkish hazel and its economic value. Turkish hazel is a great species to plant into a forest to replace any mature trees which may be have been removed or died. They can be planted into small gaps and being shade tolerant will thrive in the shelter provided by the other trees. They will often grow rapidly but as they near the height of surrounding trees their growth will slow, as they tend to be a ‘sub-canopy’ species.We learnt about how important it is to ensure that a ‘blue halo’ (meaning no crown crowding) is maintained around the crown of many noble hardwood species, especially as they are often not the dominant species in a forest. Wild service is very attractive to browsing deer but is actually very difficult to kill, as it will take a lot of punishment from animals (or the land manager ignorant of its high value!). Wild service can be worth up to five times more than walnut (which itself if many times more valuable than all other hardwoods) when grown for the veneer market.‘Twenty is plenty’ is a good mantra when growing wild service, meaning that it is better to have only 20 trees per hectare mixed with other species. This allows the forest manager time to really concentrate on nurturing these 20 to be the very best quality.Wild service can be pruned quite hard but will often respond by growing many epicormic shoots. A good way to prevent these (and to protect from moose!) is to tightly wrap the newly-pruned stem with mesh. Then hang a bright red ribbon from the tree to protect it from accidental damage during forest operations. See photo above.Hybrid walnuts can grow very vigorously and tend to have much better apical dominance than either common or black walnuts. Pruning to remove branches is critically important to improve timber quality. I talked about ‘No Pain, No Gain’ in walnut silviculture, meaning that walnut can be demanding to grow (e.g. site selection, pruning requirements, cost of plants), but that the rewards after these efforts can very substantial.

I am very grateful to Professor J P Skovsgaard for involving me in this fascinating day, and to the group for welcoming me and contributing to such stimulating discussions about noble hardwoods.

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Scottish Forestry Review

I am grateful to the Royal Scottish Forestry Society for the review of The Forest Guide Scotland in its member magazine Scottish Forestry.

Published in July, the detailed article gives a balanced review of the guidebook, provided by Val Hamilton.

an attractive, well-bound and portable paperback

SCOTTISH FORESTRY Volume 77 No. 2 Summer 2023 |
Royal Scottish Forestry Society

… an appealing, useful publication, even for those very familiar with Scotland’s woodlands. It is one to take on your travels to provide practical information on how to visit interesting, sometimes unexpected, sites throughout Scotland.

SCOTTISH FORESTRY Volume 77 No. 2 Summer 2023 |
Royal Scottish Forestry Society

Find out more about the activities of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society

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Notable Forest Sites in Scotland

Have you ever wondered what is the largest forest in Scotland, or even the smallest? What about the highest altitude woodland or the most remote site to visit? Well, look no further. Here’s an extract from The Forest Guide Scotland with a summary of some of the most notable forest sites across Scotland.

The Forest Guide Scotland was published by Bloomsbury earlier this year, and is the first of three guidebooks that I’m working on which will eventually include more than 1,000 forest sites across Britain. The Scotland guidebook features 365 sites, and in the table below I highlight the largest, smallest, highest altitude, most curious, the furthest from any road or most remote, the site with the tallest trees, the site with the rarest trees, and the most forested areas. Numbers in square brackets (e.g. [106]) refer to the site number in the guidebook.

LargestScotland’s Forest Parks are the largest forested areas, but the largest single named forest in the guide is the Forest of Ae [106], covering 10,321ha.SmallestHalligarth [314] in the Shetland Islands is the smallest site in the guide at only 0.3ha.AltitudeThe highest-altitude woodland site featured is Creag Fhiaclach [213], whose Scots pine trees grow up to 648m above sea level, with montane scrub above. Some woodlands grow almost at sea level.CuriousAe [106] might be the largest single forest, but ironically it has the shortest name in the guide. Wood Hill Wood [174] surely wins for most descriptive name, while evocative names abound, including Dark Mile [227] and Lost Valley [246].RemoteThe Caledonian pinewood at Glen Kinglass [22] is the most remote site, furthest away from any road, with a return walking distance of at least 30km. Woodland sites on some of the isles require significant travel by sea or air to reach them, including Langass [325] on Uist, Berriedale [320] on Hoy and Halligarth [314] on Shetland.TallestThe greatest collection of champion trees (including a 62m-tall grand fir) can be found at Diana’s Grove [326], while the tallest tree in Britain (a Douglas fir measuring 65m) is currently growing at Laird’s Grove [43].RarestThe rarest tree found in any Scottish forest is the endemic Arran whitebeam growing at Gleann Diomhan [57].ForestedArgyll & Bute is the most forested region, with 28 per cent of its land covered by trees (almost three times that of England).Notable forest sites in Scotland. Numbers in square brackets refer to site numbers described in The Forest Guide Scotland by Gabriel Hemery (Bloomsbury, 2023)

You can find out more about the sites by purchasing The Forest Guide Scotland, which is available in paperback or digital formats from all good bookshops, and online from Bookshop.org and Amazon. I also sell the guidebook in my online shop which will be supplied as a signed copy – see below.

The Forest Guide online

I also offer a dynamic online map – The Forest Guide online – featuring a selection of useful data to accompany the text from The Forest Guides. Access is free for readers who have purchased a copy (via a unique code), or alternatively by paying a small one-time fee. Read more at the Forest Guide Online.

Shop for signed copies of the book below, and also take advantage of a discount on my Forests of Scotland 2024 calendar which features a selection of images from the guidebook.

Forests of Scotland 2024 Calendar £25.00 Add to basket The Forest Guide Scotland £25.00 Add to basket The post Notable Forest Sites in Scotland appeared first on Gabriel Hemery.

High Pruning Walnut

Today, 15th July, is St Swithin’s Day, the best time of the year to prune walnut trees. The saint’s day is a handy way to remember when to brush the cobwebs of your pruning saw and get out to your trees.

The aim is to convert your low value firewood into veneer grade logs. Yes, it really is that simple. Just 10 minutes or so will convert each tree from a mutt to a pedigree. I’ve written extensively about this before – see here.

This year I thought I’d create a short timelapse video (see below) of me working on a lovely specimen of hybrid walnut. This tree is a hybrid between common walnut Juglans regia and black walnut Juglans nigra. It displays typical hybrid vigour and excellent apical dominance (meaning it has a strong growing tip and is less likely to fork). It is growing between two black alder (Alnus glutinosa) trees which have done a great job in protecting it from the wind. Being nitrogen-fixing species, the alders have also helped fertilise the soil which will have benefited the walnut.

Gabriel Hemery high-pruning a hybrid walnut

This particular tree should have been first pruned several years ago, but it wasn’t. As a result some of the branches were too large for my liking. They will take more than one year to heal over (‘occlude’) which is not ideal, and the tree will have more knots and larger knots at its core. The best pruning method is to cut little and often, i.e. every couple of years, meaning that the branches you remove will be not much thicker than your thumb (a good rule of thumb!) and they will be limited to a smaller inner diameter of the stem. You should never remove branches from more than 50% of the tree’s height. Prune as high as you can although 6m is probably more than enough as it will result in 2x 3m-long saw logs. Ultimately, by high-pruning you are limiting all knots (i.e. former branches) to the core of the log, with all growth outside that knotty core being clear of knots and blemishes. This will create the highest value sawlogs, or even veneer-grade timber.

Watch the timelapse carefully and you will see that with some of the heavier branches I first cut them off at about 50m from the main stem. This does mean double the effort, but the resulting stub which you cut off next tends to fall cleanly without tearing the main stem which is critically important to avoid damage to the tree. The alternative is to undercut before you cut the branch off in one go, but I find this difficult to do especially when working with a 5m+ pole saw. Some saws come with a chisel blade built in which can score the bark and help prevent tearing, but again with larger branches you are better off adopting my technique.

In terms of the equipment, make sure you use a good quality saw. Pruning saws are designed to work on the pull stroke, which is essential when you are working overhead. Personally, I am a fan of Silky Saws, like the ‘Longboy‘ pictured below. Please note, if you click on a link to the pruning saw and go on to purchase one, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (but I appreciate your support!).

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Read more about walnut trees

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So long Twitter, Hello Threads

At last, I’ve bid farewell (and good riddance) to Twitter, and I’m dipping my toes in the water of the new micro-blogging platform, Threads.

Many readers of my blog may not feel the need to explore my social media, yet for me a micro-blogging platform does provide a good window into my activities. It allows more people to discover my work, using links to this blog to provide more depth and detail for people who want to find out more.

Twitter has long had a vibrant community of tree and forestry people, environmentalists and creatives, and it was originally a great way for me to engage with important news and activities. However, along with millions of other users, I became increasingly horrified as Twitter became an unpleasant online community, and then wrecked by successive ill-thought-through interventions by its billionaire owner. I had a brief foray with Mastadon, but it was not for me, because as for so many others, the learning curve was just too steep. With Threads run by Meta and linked closely with Instagram, it may be too early to tell how the platform will grow and be used, but there’s no denying it has seen an explosion of interest since launching on 5th July. It has become the most rapidly downloaded app ever. Evidently, I have not been alone in waiting for a viable alternative to Twitter.

A new dawn for the Threads app. A recent image of a dramatic sunrise (c) Gabriel Hemery

So far, Threads appears more friendly even if its millions of new users are all, like me, wondering best how to navigate its use. I have been impressed with the way it renders images. It has the advantage over its sister site Instagram in allowing images to be displayed in any format rather than being constrained to 1:1. Like many photographers, I will need to work how to use the two platforms side by side. I assume it will be Instagram for images, Threads for the story, but who knows ..?

threads.net/@gabrielhemery

If you previously followed me on Twitter, do search for me on Threads if you also switch over and I’ll follow you back.

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Forests of Scotland 2024 Calendar

I’m pleased to announce my calendar for 2024 is now available to order from my shop. Pre-order early and take advantage of a special discount.

The Forests of Scotland 2024 calendar features 13 images selected from The Forest Guide Scotland published by Bloomsbury, printed in large (A3) format in glorious colour. Calendar dates are minimalist to allow the image to shine in your home or office.

Pre-order early to take advantage of a generous discount.

Full price: £25.00 +P&P20% discount (order before end September): £20.00 +P&P [use code KPTMWM6J ]10% discount (order before end November): £22.50 +P&P [use code KWZ3Z4NH ]Pre-OrderForests of Scotland 2024 calendar by Gabriel HemeryJanuary 2024February 2024March 2024April 2024May 2024June 2024July 2024August 2024September 2024October 2024November 2024December 2024Top Quality A3 calendarLandscape A3 size (420x297mm)170gsm silk paperhigh-quality professional colour printingwhite wire spiral bounddelivered in white cardboard slipdetailed captions with every imageminimal date details to allow maximum image sizeFeaturingCover: Forests at Glenmuick, Royal DeesideJanuary: Glen AffricFebruary: Red squirrel in temperate rainforestMarch: Glen CoeApril: Paradise Wood, PitfichieMay: Wood of CreeJune: Glen QuoichJuly: Caledonian pinewoods near Loch ClairAugust: StrathmoreSeptember: Little GarveOctober: Beinn EigheNovember: Dundreggan reflectionsDecember: Black Wood of RannochPre-order today

Use the coupon codes at the checkout to receive your discount

Forests of Scotland 2024 Calendar £25.00 Add to basket The post Forests of Scotland 2024 Calendar appeared first on Gabriel Hemery.

Cover Revealed for The Tree Almanac 2024

I super excited to reveal the final cover for my next book The Tree Almanac 2024: A Seasonal Guide to the Woodland World.

The Tree Almanac 2024

The book cover has been illustrated by Charlotte Day who specialises in botanically-inspired artwork.

About The Tree Almanac 2024

Understand the magic of trees like never before, and make the most of our wonderful woodlands across Britain and Ireland.

A beautifully illustrated month-by-month guide following the miraculous seasonal journey of trees, from bare branches to budbursts, the first leaves to the first blossom and the great autumn colour-change. Each month has a miscellany of practical content, scientific gems and cultural wonders. The book includes recipes (elderflower champagne, pickled walnuts, spiced apple chutney), crafts (whistle whittling and making alder ink), curiosities to spot, notes on woodland wildlife, tree care instructions, folk traditions and marvels from a variety of trees and their surrounding habitats.

Whether you are sitting under the shade of a plane tree in the city, discovering ancient forests or reaping harvest from a young orchard, this book has something for everyone to enjoy and learn.

ISBN: 9781916336278 hardback
RRP: £14.99
Publisher: Robinson Books (Little Brown Group)
Date of publication: November 2023

The book is released on 9th November 2023. Copies can be pre-ordered from all good bookshops.

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What is the best tree field guide?

A good tree field guide should help you identify a tree while you are out and about, whether it is in leaf or not, in a park or woodland, and even in the distance. A field guide should work for anyone, whatever their experience or knowledge. It should not be so large or heavy that is discourages the user to take it into the field. A field guide should also help you learn more about a tree when you have identified it, providing information about its growing characteristics, how it reproduces, the places where it is most likely to be found, its timber and more.

What is the best tree field guide?

But these are just my views. What do you think?

Research

I’m currently researching tree field guides and invite you to share your views with me about you think makes a good tree field guide. My particular interest is in field guides for trees found in Britain or Europe, but if you have a favourite field guide from North America, Australia or elsewhere which you think I could learn from, please do take part by sharing your views.

Popular tree field guides

Currently, some of the most popular field guides for trees found in Britain and Europe are:

Trees: A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe (Photographic Guide ) by John White et al. Oxford University PressKingfisher Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Europe. D. A. Sutton. Kingfisher.British Trees: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry. Collins.Collins Tree Guide. Owen Johnson.Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe. Alan Mitchell. Collins Field Guide.Take part

I have created a short survey to help collect the views of regular readers and those of anyone else who comes across my website. There is a plenty of space for you to share your views in as much detail as you wish, or you can simply check a few boxes. I’m really interested in reading your thoughts on what makes a great tree field guide.

Take the Survey

Thank you for taking part.

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The Little Book of Trees

I have had the privilege to be involved as a consultant to a wonderful new book: The Little Book of Trees by Andrea Pinnington & Caz Buckingham. I was also very pleased to introduce the authors to the important work of The Forest School Association.

“Recognising trees is an important step towards reading nature, and I am convinced this book will sow a seed of passion in many budding naturalists.”

An extract from the Foreword written by Gabriel Hemery of The Little Book of Trees by Andrea Pinnington and Caz Buckingham

Recently I caught up with authors Andrea Pinnington and Caz Buckingham, who kindly answered some questions for me about the book:

The Little Book of Trees may be small but is packed with information. Who do you think this book will appeal to?

We have produced this series with all the family in mind, with a reading age of 7 years and upwards. The book is for everyone who enjoys the natural world and would like to know more about individual tree species and key plant themes such as pollination and growth. The pages are highly illustrated and feature over 40 of the most common trees in Britain as well as the plants, animals and fungi that depend upon them.

The first edition of the book was published in 2019. What’s new in this 2023 edition?

The original edition was a hardback book, much like the well-known old Observer guides. However, we felt that this lighter paperback format would be more practical and easier to carry around. It also includes galleries of individual species on flaps at the front and back of the book to make it easier to identify trees on walks outside (rarely an easy task!). This edition is being printed alongside two other titles in the series: The Little Book of Butterflies and The Little Book of Wild Flowers in the same format and in association with nature organisations. The paperbacks also give us the extra space to feature forewords from each of our wonderful nature consultants who have been key in helping us make these books.

You produced the book in partnership with the Forest School Association (FSA). What is it about the FSA that you felt matches well with the book?

The FSA is the professional body and UK-wide voice for Forest School – a play-based process that enables people of all ages and abilities to care for themselves, each other and the planet. We feel that this is a really good fit for our mission to educate families in the wonders of nature and we are very excited to have this opportunity to promote the work of Forest Schools.

As a busy small independent press, you must have more books on the go. Can you share any information about forthcoming titles, and are there any more with a focus on trees or woodlands?

Yes, we are lucky enough to be very busy. We try to spend as much time as possible observing and photographing nature as well as making books – 95% of the images in The Little Book of Trees were taken by us and we hope that this involvement with our subject matter helps our books to stand apart from others. We are currently working on The Little Book of Birds – which will be the fourth title in this series. There will be a huge amount of information in it about the trees on which birds depend and we are looking forward to it coming out sometime in 2024.

Blackthorn from The Little Book of TreesOak from The Little Book of Trees

Buy from Amazon Buy from Bookshop.org

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Author interview with NHBS

I’m grateful to NHBS and Luanne Wilkes for posting an interview with me about The Forest Guide Scotland.

The Forest Guide Scotland is an invaluable guide to 365 of Scotland’s most beautiful, historic and nature-filled woodlands. Ranging from tiny urban copses to sprawling forests, each site is listed by name and location and includes detailed access information and a description of its main features. An essential guide for anyone living in or visiting Scotland, the book is illustrated throughout with the author’s stunning photographs which document the huge variety of plants and animals that can be found within Scotland’s forests.

NHBS, April 2023

The book is now available from nhbs.com.

Do you have a favourite forest or woodland from those featured in this book? Or do any stand out particularly in your memory?

Having to choose a favourite forest site from 365 is no easy task! I have so many wonderful memories from my fieldwork for the guidebook. If I were to pick any, I suppose they reflect my own interests in nature and my love of remote places. The Caledonian pinewoods at Glen Quoich near Inverey were stunning …

NHBS, April 2023

Read the full interview

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