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Trees woods and wildlife
Great spotted woodpecker
Not afraid to make itself heard. The great spotted woodpecker is equipped with a toolkit that makes it a true woodland specialist. Its strong beak and shock-absorbing skull are perfect for finding food and making its home among the trees.
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Blog
Life cycle of a tree: how trees grow
From seed to snag, the journey a tree takes to grow is pretty impressive! Find out more about the process.
Rachel Hoskins • 24 Jun 2019
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Blog
What is a minibeast? And other bug facts
Creepy crawlies are fascinating! But what is a minibeast? Where do they live? And what do they eat? Find out all about them with our minibeast facts.
Danielle Wesley • 13 May 2019
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Blog
When to pick sloes and how to make sloe gin
It's traditional to make sloe gin in autumn, ready for the coming winter. Here's an easy and delicious recipe for you to try, with our top sloe picking tips. It takes a couple of months to mature, so if you make it soon it'll be ready by Christmas.
Helen Keating • 15 Sep 2020
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Trees woods and wildlife
Wood blewit
Pastel-toned and edible with a magical twist. Wood blewit has a blue to violet-tinged cap and gills when young, with pale pink spores. It sometimes grows in circles called ‘fairy rings’, which can appear overnight and were once thought to indicate that magic was at work.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow, crack
Scruffy and loud, the crack willow is named after its habit of splitting with cracks and fissures, and how noisy its branches are when they break. It’s one of the largest willows and its leaves are popular with moth caterpillars.
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Blog
What is pollination?
Learn about pollination and why it is so important for the natural world.
Danielle Wesley • 08 Apr 2019
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Trees woods and wildlife
Wild garlic
A delicious sign of the old, wild garlic is also known as ramsons. Look for them in shady woods where they coat the woodland floor in spring.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Bramble
Hardy and determined, the bramble uses powerful roots to grow rapidly in almost any environment. Look out for juicy blackberries in the summer to make the most of this countryside favourite.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Dark-edged bee-fly
Masquerading as a bumblebee, this agile mimic is a lover of all things nectar. Look out for it buzzing from flower to flower on warm, sunny days.