Tree Radicals

Jez meets with Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber based in Wiltshire to talk about the realities of where our wood comes from. Tom talks about the innovative and dynamic approaches Vastern embrace in supplying UK timber to the private and commercial sector. The future of timber supply, our woodlands and the biodiversity they support are all under increasingly severe threats linked to climate change, pests, diseases, and a lack of or mis-management - so what's the answer? Is there one? 

Diversity, resilience, and creative approaches to growing timber and maintaining our woodlands certainly seems to one approach.

@vasterntimber
www.vastern.co.uk/

Do we even need a public service forestry sector? Can we grow quality hardwood in the UK?  What tree species should we plant for the future of UK timber? Just some of the questions Jez speaks with Esmond Harris on this month.

Esmond is an obvious choice to be asking this questions with, as a former director of the Royal Forestry Society. Esmond has had lifelong work in the forestry sector, is a published author, and has spent much time championing education in forestry circles. 

Gabriel and Jez walk and talk through the woods at the Sylva Wood Centre in Oxfordshire and discuss the role of modern foresters in an ever-changing changing landscape. Does forestry need rebranding? A new image? How do we get people to connect with the fact that forestry isn't simply 'killing trees'? Gabriel an Jez attempt to tease apart the stark disconnection between timber products and our woodlands & forests. How is it that we can translate the care and emotions that people have for trees into support and understanding of forestry, timber growing, and enhancing biodiversity all at the same time? 

The beauty and challenge of complexity is endlessly fascinating, and is especially rich in the realms of forests and woodlands. If we are to risk any success in nurturing the natural world in meaningful ways, restoring and building up the affinity that people (not just foresters) have for these spaces must be a key. 

Find out more about Sylva Foundation here - https://www.sylva.org.uk/

Episode 17 of the Tree Radicals podcast, Kath talks with Shubhendu Sharma founder and director of Afforest, about how he is using the Miyawaki method in cities across the globe, they discuss tangible change, and the power of the tiny (forests).

With ever increasing numbers of people living in cities and the UN predicting that 68% of the world population will be living in urban areas by 2050, the need to 'green' our spaces has never been more pressing. Beyond the benefits to air quality, mental-health, and beauty what else can greener concrete spaces provide and where do we start? Afforestt have learned from the great Akira Miyawaki and are keen to share their learnings, knowledge, and methodology of how to create small forests with the world. We highly recommend checking out their new video  series freely available on Youtube (link below).
 

Here's a link for the thread that Shubhendu mentions on Twitter - it contains a few different articles to explore at your leisure. 

This link will take you to the new video series that Afforestt have just launched, free and available for all 'Learn How to Grow Your Own Forest'

Find out more about Afforestt on their website  or on Insta & Twitter @afforestt

Find and follow us on too @tree_radicals and definitely check out our shiny NEW website. We have resources and links galore we cannot wait to share and will be adding more material and bookable courses over the coming this month. Keep your little beadies peeled. 

Episode 16 of the podcast and Kath talks with Alan from Trees for Life about the incredible project the charity kicked off in November 2021 engaging with landowners across 2000 square miles of the highlands to collaborate on the future on communities, livelihoods, biodiversity, and land-use. Kath and Alan also get into the true costs involved in tree planting, the presence of greenwashing in carbon offsetting, deer populations, and lessons from Norway.

Find out more about Trees for Life on their website https://treesforlife.org.uk/about-us/ or on Instagram & Twitter @treesforlifeuk

And find and follow us on Instagram @tree_radicals or check out our website for even more tree-packed projects at https://thewoodland.co/

Guy Singh-Watson is the founder of organic veg box company 'Riverford' and more recently finds himself taking a foray into nut production. In this episode of the Tree Radicals podcast Guy talks with Jez about the importance of embracing complexity, our disconnection with where food really comes from, and the desperate need for legislation in acting meaningful change.

Rob Penn, writer, broadcaster and photographer, has written about and researched the relationship we have with wood and its uses all over the world, and in this episode of Tree Radicals, he tells Jez his reflections on our current woodland predicaments and about his native broadleaf-planting project. 

Gill is a researcher in the decision-making of forestry and land use, investigating how factors, including biodiversity and carbon emissions, are affected by the decisions being made in the management of our forests. She and Kath discuss her research and share the opinion that we need a radical shift in how we involve people all across our society in holding more open and innovative conversations about the environment and the research we want to be funded.

Gill's research: https://oxlel.zoo.ox.ac.uk
                                  https://www.sylva.org.uk/home

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thewoodlandpresents
Our website: https://thewoodland.co/tree-radicals/

Alex Greene is researching ethnobotany, the study of the relationship between people and plants, and in this episode, Jez asks him what this field might be able to teach us about our approach toward plants and the environment as a society, and as individuals.

Our Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewoodlandpresents
Our Website: https://thewoodland.co/tree-radicals/

Seb Cox, furniture designer, maker and environmentalist, talks about the potential for market growth around the ancient practice of coppicing, the accessibility of social media for independent businesses using sustainable timber to thrive online, and Seb shares his manifesto for land-use. 

In this episode Seb recommends these great Instagram accounts:
@lornaweavesoak
@copsework
@farminggeorge
@ssaw.collective

Seb's Instagram: @sebastiencoxltd
Seb's website: www.sebastiancox.co.uk

Our Instagram: @thewoodlandpresents
Our website: www.thewoodland.co/tree-radicals