21 Wednesday Mar 2018
Forest: noun; a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth. The Oxford Dictionary says the word morphed from the Latin foris, meaning ‘outside’, to the late Latin forestis (silva), meaning ‘(wood) outside’, to Old French and thence to Middle English.
Today just happens to be a day to celebrate the importance of all types of forests and woodlands and trees all around the globe, so here’s wishing you a very happy International Forests Day!
10 Wednesday Jan 2018
Tags
#WildWords, forests, lover of forests, lover of trees, lover of woodlands, nemophilist, woodland
Nemophilist: A haunter of woods; one who loves forests and woodlands, their beauty and solitude. From the Ancient Greek νέμος nemos, meaning a wooded pasture or glade + φιλία philia, meaning loving.
This is me!
05 Sunday Jun 2016
Posted in nature
For day two of Wales Biodiversity Week (and day 5 of 30 Days Wild, which I am also following – more information on that Wildlife Trust initiative here) – I went for a wander around one of my local nature reserves, Nant Fawr Woodlands. Established as a green corridor by Cardiff City Council in 1993 and following the Nant Fawr stream from Roath Park Lake to Llanishen Reservoir, the woodlands are managed by a group of local conservation-minded residents, ‘The Friends of Nant Fawr’.
As well as two parcels of woodland harbouring some magnificent old trees, the area also includes three ancient meadows, once part of Rhyd-y-blewn farm, which are valuable habitats for wildflowers and the insects that thrive on them. The Friends are part of the Cardiff Biodiversity Partnership, have a well-developed biodiversity action plan, and manage the woodlands and meadows in accordance with agreed guidelines to conserve and enhance this wonderful environment.
It’s a wonderful place for a ramble, taking you from city to countryside, with much to enjoy along the way.
01 Sunday May 2016
Tags
ancient woodland, beech, beech trees, Cwn George, Dinas Powys, trees, Wild garlic, woodland, Woodland Trust
Yesterday I feel in love. His name is George, George Wood, and he lives near the charming little village of Dinas Powys, west of Cardiff.
He’s part ancient semi-natural woodland and part new native woodland, primarily dominated by oak and ash but also more recently planted with beeches.
Although these beeches are recent, they are now considered an essential part of George’s personality.
George is a bit smelly at the moment because of his preference for masses of wild garlic, but his stunning good looks more than make up for this passing phase.
Though it’s his beeches that made me fall in love with him, I’m sure I will also come to love his oaks and ashes just as much. I can’t wait to get to know George better!
