20 a Day (1) Flashcards
How should you water hedgerows?
Water them heavily, but infrequently.
Why shouldn’t you water a hedge regularly?
Because the roots will be shallow.
How long does it take to grow and care for a baby hedge?
Five years
When will a hedge begin to look like a hedge?
Three years after planting - the whips will look more tree-like.
What are the two species of hedge plant that will make up 50% of a hedge?
Hawthorn and blackthorn.
Give four species (other than hawthorn and blackthorn) that are great in a hedge.
- Field maple
- Hazel
- Dogwood
- Wayfairing
Using hawthorn as an example, why are scientific names important?
Hawthorn is called mayflower in some places (and there are many plants called mayflower!)
What part of a hedge needs to be very thick?
The base.
How do you cut the sides of an adult hedge?
Cut one side on one year, the other side the next, and leave it alone for the third year. Then repeat the cycle.
Why do you only cut one side of a hedge at a time?
Because hedges tend to fruit/flower every two years.
Should hedges be thick, or gappy?
They should be dense and thick.
What part of a hedge will gradually degrade over time?
The base. All hedges eventually need rejuvenation.
How often does a hedge need to be rejuvenated?
Roughly every 40 years.
Give two methods that can be used to rejuvenate a hedge.
Coppicing and layering.
Each time you cut a part of a hedge, you should raise the cutting height. How much should you raise it by each year?
10cm
What anthropogenic thing causes hedges to become gappy?
Over-trimming, especially if a hedge is flailed to the same line.
What feature of a hedge may indicate that it has been frequently flailed to the same line?
If there are hard knuckles at the trim line.
When a hedge becomes gappy, it becomes susceptible to being colonised by invasive species. Give two invasive hedge species.
Elder and sycamore.
What two things happen if a hedge is cut to the same line and width year after year?
- The hedge becomes gappy
- Fruit and flowers decline
How much wider should you cut a part of a hedge following its previous cut?
10cm wider than the previous width.
During which months should a hedgerow be trimmed?
January and February.
Between which dates should you never cut a hedge?
Between the 1st of March and the 31st of August (this is the bird breeding season).
When will hedge stems begin to develop fruits and flowers?
When they’re two years old.
You should avoid cutting all hedge faces that ___________ within a single year.
Face a single compass orientation (e.g., don’t cut all south-facing faces in the same year).
Hedges can enter a non-intervention phase where they’re not cut for a number of years. What’s the main benefit of this?
It will grow big and provide many resources for wildlife.
What happens to hedges after a non-intervention phase?
The base of the hedge will begin to thin.
What needs to be done when the base of a hedge begins to thin?
Rejuvenation.
Are small gaps in a hedge anything to worry about?
Yes - they can greatly hinder mouse dispersal.
When should you cut a part of a hedge every year?
When new planted trees have been added. Yearly trimming encourages dense growth.
How often should a baby hedge be cut?
Every year for the first five years of its life (then flip-flop between sides).
What do hedges serve as anchor points for?
Mycorrhizal systems.
Give two reasons why brambles are good in a hedge.
- They’re a good food source for animals
- They’re difficult to penetrate.
If a hedge has too many brambles, what does it mean?
It means that the hedge isn’t dense enough and too much light is getting in.
What does Hooper’s Law do?
It allows you to estimate the age of a hedge.
Give the equation for Hooper’s Law.
Number of woody species found in a 30m hedge X 100 = the age of the hedge.
Give three species that only occur in old hedges.
- Primroses
- Bluebells
- Dog’s mercury
Why might there be a surviving tree in an area that’s been savaged by ash dieback?
The tree may be protected from the wind, and therefore it may not have received any spores.
What’s one of the first signs of ash dieback?
Diamond-shaped lesions on bark surrounding a branch/twig.
What tree species often forms natural monocultures?
Beech trees (because they’re so competitive).
What makes beech trees such good competitors?
Because they can feed their babies through mycorrhizae .
What is placed on hedge saplings that could cause the future hedge to become gappy?
Tree guards.
If a hedge is gappy, what can pass through it?
Rabbits.
What are trees that are planted in hedgerows called?
Standards
In what shape/pattern should hedgerow saplings be planted?
They should be planted in a wavy line
If you decide that tree guards are bad, why should you wrap them around a couple of saplings?
So that you can let the presence of the hedge be known (and hopefully it won’t get mowed down).
Why are black poplars in decline?
Because no one liked the fluffy seeds that females produce, so there’s now a non-viable breeding population.
Give one reason why standards are good in coppice woods (hint: shade).
Because their shade helps to protect new coppice growth.
Other than diamond-shaped lesions, give another symptom of ash-dieback (hint: sprouts).
Water sprouts growing on branches.
What do blackthorn leaves look like? What’s the scientific name of blackthorn?
Prunus spinosa
hat do dogwood leaves look like? What’s the scientific name for dogwood?
Cornus sanguinea
What’s the latin name for common hawthorn?
Crataegus monogyna
What does a wayfaring tree look like? What’s the scientific name for a wayfaring tree?
Viburnum lantana
What’s the scientific name for a field maple?
Acer campestre
Should you ever strike the top of a spade with the sole of your boot?
No, you could very easily injure yourself. Instead, you should move your feet apart, lift up the spade, and then drop it.
What’s this?
A British Telecom rabbiting spade.
When should you use a spike/crowbar?
You use one when you’re trying to get through stone.
What is a post driver actually called?
A drivall.
What should you remember to wear when using a drivall?
A hard hat - you could easily knock yourself out otherwise.
When using a drivall in a pair, why should you match the strength of the other person?
If you’re stronger than the other person, then you may tip the drivall towards them and cause serious injury.
Can you use a sledgehammer to drive in a fence post?
No - sledgehammers are designed to break things. A sledgehammer would break the top of a post.
When pushing mortices so that tenons go inside them, what can you do if the fence post isn’t straight (e.g., won’t go any further)?
- Mark where there’e resistance on the tenon
- Chisel the area away around the mark you’ve made
- If there’s still resistance, repeat this process
When slotting in rails into mortices, what way up should they be?
The non-barked side should face upwards.
When building a post-and-rail fence, the higher-quality fence rail should be…
At the top!
Why do some bow saws have gaps between their teeth?
To remove sappy sawdust paste - only use these saws when cutting through green wood.
What would you use the top blade for? What about the bottom blade?
- Top blade: green wood
- Bottom blade: dead wood
What sort of saws are very dangerous? (Hint: teeth frequency)
Those that don’t have many teeth - they’ll saw straight through into the bone. This includes silky saws.
When would you use a curved saw?
When trying to cut a branch that’s high up.
When using a side-axe, which way should the bevel face?
The bevel should face inwards, towards your centre.
What are the two types of lopper?
- Bypass lopper (common type)
- Anvil lopper
What sort of edge should you not use for precise work (e.g., carving)?
A concave edge (felt-tip edge). The blade will glance off when in use.
What are convex/felt-tip edges good for?
Splitting things!
How can you tell if a blade is sharp by rubbing across it?
If there’s “scratchiness” then the blade is sharp.
How can you use light to tell if a blade is sharp?
Put the blade under light, and any damage will shine/glint.
What are damaged parts of a bladed edge called?
Burrs.
Why do you need to remove burrs from an edge?
Because they’ll break off when you use the saw, causing it become blunt.
How can you tell if a blade is cheap?
If the bevel is really short.
Engineering files have different grits. What does that mean?
The grit of a file determines how much material you remove with each stroke. The higher the grit value, the more fine your edge will be.
What are sharpening stones made of?
Carbon granules that have been glued together.
Can you use a sharpening stone without a rubbing compound?
Yes (but it won’t be very effective).
What are the two different types of sharpening stone, and what rubbing compound could you use with each?
- Waterstones - these use water or spit as a rubbing compound.
- Oilstones - these use oil as a rubbing compound (like WD40).
Can you use water with an oilstone?
No.
What should you do before sharpening a rusty blade?
Remove the rust with a file and then brush the dust away.
How do you sharpen a knife with a Japanese whetstone? (Step 1 of 3) (6 Points).
- Start with the main body of the blade pressed flat against the base of the stone.
- Put your middle three fingers on the body of the blade.
- Tilt the blade so the bevel is flat against the stone.
- Push the blade forward, shifting it slightly so that the entire length of the blade is sharpened.
- Make sure the blade never leaves the stone.
- Repeat this 10 times.
How do you sharpen a knife with a Japanese whetstone? (Step 2 of 3) (2 Points).
- Repeat step 1, but this time pull towards you.
- Make sure your middle three fingers are against the spine of the blade as you pull.
How do you sharpen a knife with a Japanese whetstone? (Step 3 of 3) (2 Points).
To sharpen the curved end of a knife, repeat steps 1 and 2 with the end.
You need to twist your shoulders so that the entirety of the curved edge rubs against the whetstone.
What are still water habitats known as?
Lotic habitats
What are moving water habitats known as?
Lentic habitats
What are secondary woodlands?
Secondary woodlands are woodlands that have grown naturally on land that was previously cleared of trees.
Why are plagioclimax habitats important? (Hint: species richness)
Because secondary woodlands (which succession works towards) will never be as species rich as plagioclimax communities.
What are the three different species of shrew in the UK?
- Common
- Pygmy
- Water
Who this
A female black bird (Turdus merula)
What’s the scientific name of the Eurasian wren?
Troglodytes trogodytes
What’s the scientific name of the blackcap?
Sylvia atricapilla
Sylvia means “spirit of the woods”.
Bud arrangement can be used to identify a tree. Give three different bud arrangements.
What exactly is the subcanopy?
A layer of the forest that consists of smaller species and species that want to reach dominance but can’t due to competition.
Without management, heathlands and moorlands become dominated by…
Bracken!
If wetlands aren’t managed, then _____________ and _____________ take over.
Willow and alder - two water-loving species.
Between which two months are phase 1 habitat surveys carried out? What’s this period known as?
Between March and September (the growing season).
When do you have to do a risk assessment (by law)?
When you employ five or more people.
If you’re going to be lazy when doing a risk assessment, what’s the one thing you should do (at the very least)?
An emergency action plan - the most important thing by far.
What’s the first step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
Visit the site and identify the hazards.
What’s the second step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
Identify who can be harmed and how.
What’s the third step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
Identify what precautions are already in place.
What’s the fourth step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
Rate the level of risk in terms of likelihood and severity (high, medium, or low?)
What’s the fifth step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
Considering the precautions that are already in place to control a hazard, what further action is needed?
What’s the sixth step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
Identify who is going to implement new precautions to control a hazard and when they’re going to do them.
What’s the seventh and final step when filling out a risk assessment sheet?
What’s the “residual” risk rating now that new precautions have been put in place? (Low, medium, or high?)
What comes first, a risk assessment or an emergency action plan?
An emergency action plan (always the most important thing).
What are the two types of risk assessment?
- Generic risk assessments
- On-site risk assessments
What is a generic risk assessment?
These are pre-made risk assessments that cover a certain activity.
Why can’t on-site risk assessments always be carried out?
They can’t always be done as they’re very time consuming.
In what shape hole should trees be planted in? Why?
Square shaped holes. The thinking goes that if there’s a sharp angle in the edge of the hole, the root won’t turn and will be forced into the surrounding soil.
If a sapling is going to be held down by stakes, what sort of tape should be used?
Hessian tape - this will allow the tree to sway in the wind.
f you’re going to buy saplings, where should you get them from?
From the closest nursery. Their saplings should be adapted to the climate and they’ll be of native strains.
How long does it take for tree roots to become established after planting a sapling?
Roughly 3 to 4 years.
What happens to a hedge every 100 years?
A new woody species will get added to it (naturally). This is why Hooper’s Law works (kind of)!
What is by far the most common hedge species? Why is it better than another popular species?
Hawthorn. It’s better than blackthorn, another stockproof species which produces suckers that cause the species to spread quickly if it isn’t managed properly.
Why do so many owls die on roads?
Because they’re attracted to all the small mammals inside of hedges.
Why is alder a great species to plant along a river?
Because its roots can tolerate being waterlogged for extended periods of time.
What must you do before filling a fence post hole?
Make sure the tenons of the rails actually fit in the mortices.
When using a string to check is a set of fence posts are straight, what do you need to remember? (Hint: outside)
Tie the string around the bottom of the first post, and make sure the knot is on the outside of the fence.
If a fence post isn’t straight before you fill in the hole, what can you use to straighten it?
A mell - bash the bottom first and then the top.
What do you need to remember when chiselling wood?
Make little notches along the area you want to cut away so that the material bends away!
You find a tree that has succumbed to ash dieback. How should you manage it and why?
- Keep all deadwood on site, leave the trunk standing, and cut-off everything else for safety reasons (assuming that it’s safe to leave it standing)
- Certain beetle larvae love deadwood when it’s below ground, and then when it’s above ground when they’re adults
You find a stream. Do you need to manage it?
No, sometimes not managing something at all is the correct management option.
When managing a ride, what should always be visible?
The ground layer!
How should you really manage a ride (in terms of cutting operations).
- The middle path should be mowed every year.
- The sides should be cut every other year as biennials need to set seed!
Are there set rules for how wide a ride should be (2 Points)?
- No, you have to do it by ear.
- If you don’t know, just say the width of a ride should be 1.5X the height of the trees.
What is a safe working distance for a swinging tool, like a slasher?
Two times the length of the tool.
You can create miniature glades along a ride. Where should you make them?
In areas where light penetrates the canopy.
How do you correctly use a slasher? (3 Points)
- Make sure your grip hand (your left hand/hand that’s at the base of the slasher) has no glove, otherwise you risk accidentally throwing the slasher.
- Try to slash close to the ground at a 45 degree angle.
- Make sure that everyone else is 2x the length of the slasher away from you.
Why aren’t very narrow rides much good?
Because not much light reaches the forest floor, and keeping conditions sunny is the main goal of ride maintenance.
When planting hedge saplings, you do so in staggered rows. What are the dimensions of these rows?
- In a single row, saplings should be 33cm apart.
- The two rows themselves should be 50cm apart.
How many saplings would you expect to find in 100m of hedge?
606 (100/0.33 = 303. 303 * 2 = 606).
Do hedgerows need two rows of saplings?
Yes, otherwise they won’t be very dense.
Why are tree guards especially important during the winter?
Because they stop hungry voles from nibbling away at the bark of saplings.
Why can planting hedges be good for biosecurity reasons?
Because they can help stop the spread of diseases, namely TB.
When you’re going to buy a tree, you can choose from a variety of different sizes. What are these sizes called?
Stock categories. Categories include:
* Seedlings
* Transplants
* Whips
* Feathered
* Short, light, or half-standard
* Standard and heavy standard
* Semi-mature
What are the five different types of nursery stock?
- Bare-root
- Root-wrapped
- Root-balled
- Containerised/potted
- Container grown
What’s the cheapest form of sapling/nursery stock?
Bare-root saplings.
Between which two months can bare-rooted saplings be planted?
Between November and February (AKA the winter).
What’s very important to remember when planting bare-root saplings? (Hint: frost)
- The roots have to be completely covered in soil when you plant them
- This is because any air pockets will kill the plant (frost will creep into the spaces).
Is it better to plant young saplings or older saplings? Why?
Younger saplings. This is because older trees are more vulnerable when they’re being planted (the roots have to be planted at a very specific depth).
What are root-wrapped saplings? What’s their main advantage?
- Root-wrapped trees are sold in bags full of peat.
- The main advantage is that the season during which they can be planted is extended (November to April, as opposed to November to February).
What are root-ball sapling roots wrapped in? Why?
They’re wrapped in hessian. The balls are planted straight into the ground. The hessian enables the roots to breath without drying out in transport.
What’s the difference between containerised and container-grown saplings?
- Containerised saplings are initially grown in the ground before they’re transported into containers.
- Container-grown saplings have spent their whole lives in pots.
Why do you need to be careful when buying container-grown saplings?
They may actually be containerised saplings which are a lot cheaper to produce.
At what time of year can container-grown saplings be planted?
They can be planted at any time of the year!
What is the technical definition of a whip?
A sapling that’s smaller than 1m in height.
Why is it important that trees are measured at breast height?
Because trees can be quite wide at their bases due to buttresses.
What’s the easiest form of tree planting? What should it only be used with?
Slit planting. It should only be used with whips (saplings that are smaller than 1m).
When planting a sapling, why does pulling it up a bit when it’s in its hole really helpful?
Because it helps the roots to spread.
What are the two main downsides of slit planting?
- It only really works for whips.
- When pushing the soil down with your foot, you may accidentally cause the tree to grow at a slant.
What’s the superior method to slit planting? (5 Points).
T-notch planting.
* Make a T-shape with your spade.
* Insert your spade in the top of the T and lever the dirt upwards (the soil should be like a pair of doors opening).
* Keep your spade in the ground and insert the sapling into the space created.
* Remove the spade.
* Firm-down the soil around the sapling.
If you want to maximise a tree’s chance of survival, what’s the best planting method?
Pit planting (because it provides so much aeration).
What’s the main drawback of T-notch tree planting?
Grass-covered ground. You can’t do it on bare soil.
Describe the four steps involved in slit planting. Assume you’re using tree guards. (4 Points)
- Push your spade all the way into the ground and push it forwards.
- Insert your sapling. The root plug should be 2cm above the ground.
- Remove the spade and push the soil around the tree.
- Put the tree guard around the sapling. Push it into the dirt.
How do you perform a pit plant? (4 Points)
- Create a square-shaped hole with your spade.
- Check to see if the hole will be deep enough to fit all the roots.
- Refill the hole with your soil.
- Press the soil down with your foot. Make sure all air gaps are filled.
When pit planting, how wide should the hole be?
It should be two to five times the diameter of the root ball.
What’s very important to remember when mulching the ground around saplings? Why?
You should allow a 1 to 2 inch clearance around the sapling where there’s no mulch.
This is to prevent the soil level from rising.
What’s the planting density of Miyawaki planting?
Three trees per m2.
Give three benefits of Miyawaki planting.
- Vandalism rates are reduced because trees are harder to get to.
- Disease risk is significantly reduced.
- Root growth is 10X faster than usual.
What do you need to add to soil before planting a sapling?
Mycorrhizal powder.
What is likely to be the only profitable coppice species?
Sweet chestnut.
How long does it take to restore a neglected coppice?
Between 20 to 30 years.
Where are you unlikely to find young trees of timber potential?
Scrub.
Give three reasons why conifers are better for timber than broadleaved trees.
- They grow much faster
- They produce higher quality timber
- They’re cheaper to establish
What nursery species would you use for…
* Oak
* Beech
- Oak: Norway spruce
- Beech: Scot’s pine
Notice how they’re both conifers
What’s the point of a nursery tree?
A nursery tree provides shelter and shade for a young sapling.
Why do conifers make such good nursery trees? (2 Points)
- Because they’re hardy
- They grow very quickly
Why is it so difficult to manage a mixture of trees?
Because one species may easily outcompete another.
If managing a mixture of trees is difficult because species compete with each other, why shouldn’t you plant tree species in rows?
Because this creates an ugly visual effect called the “Pyjama stripe effect”.
In what pattern should different tree species be planted?
Species should be planted in waves!
Are nursery species really that necessary?
No - it’s very rare for a site to require the use of conifers as nursery species so that broadleaves can establish themselves.
After felling, why do new trees need to be planted in order for new ones to appear?
Because natural regeneration cannot be relied on in the UK.
Give two reasons why sowing tree seeds is impractical.
- You will suffer heavy tree seed losses.
- The seeds themselves are also expensive.
What is snedding? What’s the broadleaved equivalent?
- Snedding is where you remove branches from conifers.
- “Delimbing” is where you remove branches from broadleaves.
Other than the species used, what other thing will affect the length of a coppice cycle?
The end-use of the coppice product.
What sort of oak tree shouldn’t be pollarded? (Hint: shock).
Oak trees that haven’t been pollarded in a very long time (e.g., 200 years). The shock will probably kill them.
Give two reasons why you might want a coppice coupe to become overstood.
- Because you want thicker, longer material.
- Because you can’t afford to manage the coupe.
What are the three main uses of pollarding?
- Control of the crown (important in urban areas)
- The coppice products need to be protected from browsers
- Setting boundaries (historically)
How long is short-rotation coppicing? Give two species you can do it with.
- Cycles are 2-4 years long.
- Willow and poplar can be used in short-rotation coppicing.
Can cattle and sheep graze in woodlands?
Yes - as long as the woods are dry and the trees are mature.
Give three farmland animals that will always attempt to strip bark.
- Horses
- Goats
- Pigs
When is a tree considered a “pole”.
When the lower branches fall off and the rate of height growth begins to slow and crown expansion becomes noticeable.
At what stage of development are trees highly susceptible to squirrel attacks?
During their pole stage (when they’re young).
What parts of a tree can be attacked by squirrels?
All parts of a tree that are above ground (AKA everything except the roots).
Give two tree species that are especially vulnerable to squirrel attacks.
Beech and sycamore trees.
Can conifer trees be attacked by squirrels?
Yes - though broadleaved trees are far more likely to be attacked.
Between which two months do poisoned squirrel traps need to be placed?
Between April and June.
When and how can climbers pose a threat to woodlands?
Climbers, namely honeysuckle and old man’s beard, can smother and distort trees when they’re at their pole stage.
Which climber rarely poses a threat to trees?
Ivy (even when it’s growing vigorously).
What percentage of a woodland should be made-up of dead biomass?
40% (this includes everything, from dead leaves to dead standing trees).
What unusual habitat counts as woodland?
Heathland (according to the Forestry Commission).
What is a forest forwarder?
Something that transports timber from the stump to the road.
What are the two different types of harvester?
Forest and forage harvesters (the latter harvests silage).
When felling trees, what is the safe working distance?
5 metres, or two tree lengths (whichever is longer).
What should you remember when cross-cutting on a slope?
Always cross-cut uphill of the timber so it doesn’t roll down and kill you.
If it’s windy, what two things can tell you if it’s too dangerous to fell trees?
- If crowns are moving because of the wind.
- If the wind is strong enough to influence the direction of felling.
What’s the point of a depth gauge on a chainsaw cutter?
The height between the top plate/tooth and the depth gauge will determine how much material the cutter will remove.
