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[greenrodders]

Knowing Yew

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; but how aware are you of the hidden dangers of trees?

Don’t panic though; over my next couple of articles I hope to share knowledge that will make time in the forest even safer.

Yew growing in a garden

One of nature’s oldest species of tree is yew. It’s a tree that breaks the rules. It’s classed as a conifer but behaves like a broadleaf tree. It has…

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[greenrodders]

Spring With Energy

Winter was almost like the olden days of fable. In other words, we had snow; quite a bit of it. More than that, it was long. 

Spring has arrived and life that was dormant appears impatient to catch up. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Evolution has adapted species to deal with a variety of conditions;the fact that wildflowers are now racing to complete their annual cycle is  evidence of that.

  For…

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[greenrodders]

Something different... Alpacas

Something different… Alpacas

Today I’m visiting the National Alpaca Show.

This Peruvian relative of camels is surprisingly popular, its coat making a fine lanolin-free wool, much softer than sheep wool and is in demand from the fashion industry.

“Cosy by Luciano” and Catherine Price exhibiting their wares.

The show has much in common with other agricultural shows but the range of trade stands reflects that this is an…

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[greenrodders]

After a long dormant time

I haven’t blogged for ages but maybe the return of energy to nature is having a knock-on effect upon me.

Today I decided to travel paths near home that I haven’t walked for at least a couple of years, some many more. I was rewarded by encountering some remarkable trees.

This oak has suffered over the years but is clearly a good home to many bugs and grubs. In turn they provide food for birds…

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[greenrodders]

Life’s a beech, n then you die. #trees #woods #forest #arboriculture #nature #countryside #outdoors #nofilter #winter #beech #veterantree (at Shugborough)

[greenrodders]

Proper tree. Veteran English Oak. #tree #trees #oak #outdoors #nature #countryside #winter #arboriculture #nofilter (at Croome Court)

[greenrodders]

Gazing up Dovedale, a valley where Izaak Walton once fished. #outdoors #nature #wildplace #wildplaces #countryside #beautifulplace #peakdistrict #ilam #staffordshire #derbyshire #dovedale #nationaltrust #fishing #angling #nofilter (at Dovedale)

[greenrodders]

Desert sand having a dramatic effect on sunlight this morning #nofilter #sky #sun #sunlight #stormcoming #ophelia #staffordshire (at Shugborough)

[greenrodders]

Shhh! Don’t tell... I’m at the training base for Churchill’s secret army who prepared for German invasion #secret #secretagent #topsecret #spyschool #wartime #rubberstamp #secretarmy #nofilter (at Coleshill, Wiltshire, United Kingdom)

[greenrodders]

Lunch break #forest #woods #trees #outdoors #nature #wildlife #countryside #nofilter

[greenrodders]

Woodland Parasol Mushroom #toadstool #mushroom #mushrooms #outdoors #outdoorliving #nature #fungus #countryside #wildlife #woods #forest #autumn #fall #winteriscoming #nofilter

[greenrodders]

Fearsome #spider #wildlife #wildlifephotographer #nofilter

[greenrodders]

Proper old-fashioned red apple. #apple #tree #orchard #nature #food #autumn #fall #fruit #nofilter

[greenrodders]

Beech leaves on the turn #tree #trees woods #forest #outdoors #nature #countryside #autumn #fall #leaves #winteriscoming

[greenrodders]

Deep in the woods, following a miners’ track abandoned for a century or more #trees #woods #forest #nature #outdoors #beautifulplace #countryside #nofilter (at NT Hawksmoor)

[greenrodders]

Big hornet #scaryfrightening #scary #wasp #hornet #insect #wildlife #outdoors #nature #countryside #nofilter

[greenrodders]

Old Hardwick Hall from down the hill #outdoors #nature #countryside #derbyshire #ruin #landscape #nofilter #trees #parkland (at Hardwick Hall and Gardens Chesterfield)