Philip Amies
@amiesphilip.bsky.social
Interested in history, earth science, biology.
Thirty years later we were thankful as our education was enhanced by specimens and now the university has it as a selling point for students.
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Thirty years later we were thankful as our education was enhanced by specimens and now the university has it as a selling point for students.
Lecturers told me stories of the zoology museum closure and how they rescued specimens from skips and housed them in labs and offices, in 1960s during university expansion but with a scorn for natural history collections.
November 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Lecturers told me stories of the zoology museum closure and how they rescued specimens from skips and housed them in labs and offices, in 1960s during university expansion but with a scorn for natural history collections.
species as is lack of management in some woods for some species. Ultimately national policy conflicts with the reality that objectives should be site based as all locations are somewhat unique.
November 27, 2025 at 10:27 AM
species as is lack of management in some woods for some species. Ultimately national policy conflicts with the reality that objectives should be site based as all locations are somewhat unique.
a maximal diversity of species, but the conifer plantation era and woodland clearance combined with isolation of woodlands as surrounding semi-natural habitats have been converted into intensive production (maybe with impacts such as drainage on remaining woods) is having impacts today on woodland
November 27, 2025 at 10:27 AM
a maximal diversity of species, but the conifer plantation era and woodland clearance combined with isolation of woodlands as surrounding semi-natural habitats have been converted into intensive production (maybe with impacts such as drainage on remaining woods) is having impacts today on woodland
airborne nitrogen and phosphates, well fed on crops deer with no predators and mild winters are just some of the reasons why 'natural' woodland dynamics are challenging to achieve. A mix of coppice, plantation, wood pasture, non-intervention may enable a range of conditions to exist which support
November 27, 2025 at 10:27 AM
airborne nitrogen and phosphates, well fed on crops deer with no predators and mild winters are just some of the reasons why 'natural' woodland dynamics are challenging to achieve. A mix of coppice, plantation, wood pasture, non-intervention may enable a range of conditions to exist which support
I have a great deal of sympathy for the idea that we can allow dynamic natural woodlands to exist again, we may have to manage restoration and have to recognise that small scale, fragmented isolated woods will not have the potential of large scale woodland. Drainage, water abstraction,
November 27, 2025 at 10:27 AM
I have a great deal of sympathy for the idea that we can allow dynamic natural woodlands to exist again, we may have to manage restoration and have to recognise that small scale, fragmented isolated woods will not have the potential of large scale woodland. Drainage, water abstraction,
wooded countries in Europe we can not afford to lose either.
November 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM
wooded countries in Europe we can not afford to lose either.
and seepage zones, pools where windblows leave a hollow, these can be on a hilltop, complex landform and geology and hidden biodiversity, our whitebeams and so much more, those woods are irreplicable, the others are with two hundred plus years which given our limited resource as one of the least
November 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM
and seepage zones, pools where windblows leave a hollow, these can be on a hilltop, complex landform and geology and hidden biodiversity, our whitebeams and so much more, those woods are irreplicable, the others are with two hundred plus years which given our limited resource as one of the least
I've visited plenty of coppice and standard woods which are relatively uniform, valuable, but clearly the product of a different eras commercial production, other coppice woods blow your mind, commercial they clearly have not been, each almost unique in their nature, some with much wetland, springs
November 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I've visited plenty of coppice and standard woods which are relatively uniform, valuable, but clearly the product of a different eras commercial production, other coppice woods blow your mind, commercial they clearly have not been, each almost unique in their nature, some with much wetland, springs
complex outcomes, disfavouring some species, favouring others, we should be very cautious of the trend to convert these complex and highly varied survivors into uniform hardwood plantations.
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
complex outcomes, disfavouring some species, favouring others, we should be very cautious of the trend to convert these complex and highly varied survivors into uniform hardwood plantations.
the widely planted (in parks) hybrid. I think this illustrates that while some coppice woods were commercial with the target species for crop production promoted others were anachronisms reflecting a less selected and managed woodland, these largely have been abandoned, lack of management has
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
the widely planted (in parks) hybrid. I think this illustrates that while some coppice woods were commercial with the target species for crop production promoted others were anachronisms reflecting a less selected and managed woodland, these largely have been abandoned, lack of management has
cut and had developed into 'trees') than as a marketable crop, the only value I've ever seen in it is as a bast source for rope making which I doubt was a viable market in the 1980s, it burns badly, but beggars can not be choosers I suppose, it is poor carving wood compared to Large-leaved Lime or
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
cut and had developed into 'trees') than as a marketable crop, the only value I've ever seen in it is as a bast source for rope making which I doubt was a viable market in the 1980s, it burns badly, but beggars can not be choosers I suppose, it is poor carving wood compared to Large-leaved Lime or
undoubtably planted as a crop, this is complex as some woodland which had been common in the 1800s was planted with Ash and Hazel coppice, and some seemed to be natural colonisation secondary woodland. The Small-leaved Lime must have been cut more as part of woodland maintenance (some had not been
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
undoubtably planted as a crop, this is complex as some woodland which had been common in the 1800s was planted with Ash and Hazel coppice, and some seemed to be natural colonisation secondary woodland. The Small-leaved Lime must have been cut more as part of woodland maintenance (some had not been
distribution with oak standards planted in. On an acidic plateau oak coppice, on the slope Small-leaved Lime, Hazel, with an increase in Ash and Field Maple on lower more calcareous and well drained slope. Some coupes suggested a more commercial approach, pure Sycamore or Sweet Chestnut coppice
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
distribution with oak standards planted in. On an acidic plateau oak coppice, on the slope Small-leaved Lime, Hazel, with an increase in Ash and Field Maple on lower more calcareous and well drained slope. Some coupes suggested a more commercial approach, pure Sycamore or Sweet Chestnut coppice
Some woods can not have been commercial for a long time, I managed woodland with Small-leaved Lime coppice stools Oliver Rackham dated as 1000 years old, but he said they could easily date to the Roman era. That wood appeared to conform to Peterkins concept of coppice reflecting natural tree
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Some woods can not have been commercial for a long time, I managed woodland with Small-leaved Lime coppice stools Oliver Rackham dated as 1000 years old, but he said they could easily date to the Roman era. That wood appeared to conform to Peterkins concept of coppice reflecting natural tree
pure coppice with few or no standards as long as charcoal and tan bark were viable markets. Often these oaks coppices were singled to high forest as these markets collapsed some were abandoned and left providing amenity and sporting value.
November 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
pure coppice with few or no standards as long as charcoal and tan bark were viable markets. Often these oaks coppices were singled to high forest as these markets collapsed some were abandoned and left providing amenity and sporting value.
may have always been slower growing, it may have been a choice to retain standards for longer concentrating on timber, and accept a lower stool density on a longer rotation for firewood and general roundwood uses. That seems to be what happened in woods I managed with oak coppice maintained as a
November 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
may have always been slower growing, it may have been a choice to retain standards for longer concentrating on timber, and accept a lower stool density on a longer rotation for firewood and general roundwood uses. That seems to be what happened in woods I managed with oak coppice maintained as a
woods appear to have maintained their short rotation, with considerable cost in places such as Cranborne Chase where as was common in hunting forests deadwood fences had to be constructed to protect coppice regrowth from commoners cattle and Fallow Deer. Other neighbouring woods, wet, cold soils
November 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
woods appear to have maintained their short rotation, with considerable cost in places such as Cranborne Chase where as was common in hunting forests deadwood fences had to be constructed to protect coppice regrowth from commoners cattle and Fallow Deer. Other neighbouring woods, wet, cold soils
Sheep management changed, turnips introduced, hurdles still used but do we have reliable data on market demand, is it possible production concentrated on those areas of pure coppice the FC censuses detail, better soils, an aspect of shelter and light, no standard tree shading or competition, these
November 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Sheep management changed, turnips introduced, hurdles still used but do we have reliable data on market demand, is it possible production concentrated on those areas of pure coppice the FC censuses detail, better soils, an aspect of shelter and light, no standard tree shading or competition, these
building or ships knee no longer required as brick and iron ships replaced former techniques. Even surviving wooden timber structure buildings might have brick replace wattle & daub, the wattle a coppice product, thatch using spars replaced by slate and tile.
November 27, 2025 at 9:40 AM
building or ships knee no longer required as brick and iron ships replaced former techniques. Even surviving wooden timber structure buildings might have brick replace wattle & daub, the wattle a coppice product, thatch using spars replaced by slate and tile.
Britain was a major importer of timber, in reality we produced so little timber we hardly had saw mills to the scale of producing countries. Coal replaced a primary use, firewood. Building technology changed in multiple ways, sawn imported timber largely replacing rough hewn timber, the cruck
November 27, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Britain was a major importer of timber, in reality we produced so little timber we hardly had saw mills to the scale of producing countries. Coal replaced a primary use, firewood. Building technology changed in multiple ways, sawn imported timber largely replacing rough hewn timber, the cruck
removed nutrients but I'm cautious about assigning longer coppice rotations to this at least without exploring other reasons which had a role. Soil type, shelter, aspect, exposure (altitude), longitude all have an influence on growth form and growth speed as does age class.
November 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
removed nutrients but I'm cautious about assigning longer coppice rotations to this at least without exploring other reasons which had a role. Soil type, shelter, aspect, exposure (altitude), longitude all have an influence on growth form and growth speed as does age class.
as does the chance damage of storms, animals, pathogens, droughts and all the other events which impact tree growth, competition and facilitation play a role depending on species mix. Over time markets have altered and woodland management has. It must be a fact that hundreds of years of harvest has
November 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
as does the chance damage of storms, animals, pathogens, droughts and all the other events which impact tree growth, competition and facilitation play a role depending on species mix. Over time markets have altered and woodland management has. It must be a fact that hundreds of years of harvest has
difference between a pasture oak with a short trunk and a huge spreading canopy and a stand of dense oaks reaching straight up and tall for the light. Silvicultural systems dictate to a large degree growth form although genetic source has an influence
November 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
difference between a pasture oak with a short trunk and a huge spreading canopy and a stand of dense oaks reaching straight up and tall for the light. Silvicultural systems dictate to a large degree growth form although genetic source has an influence
Tree and shrub vegetational structure, the three dimensional morphology, the layering from ground level through shrubs to canopy varies by species, by genetics and especially by environment, the phenotype depends on circumstance of developmental growth. The most obvious is stem density, the
November 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Tree and shrub vegetational structure, the three dimensional morphology, the layering from ground level through shrubs to canopy varies by species, by genetics and especially by environment, the phenotype depends on circumstance of developmental growth. The most obvious is stem density, the