Shade of the Canopy

Tree Planting

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:51 — 21.5MB)

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Debbie Needle from Birmingham Trees for Life talks to Tonia Clark, from Birmingham TreePeople, about community tree planting. There’s also a short piece about the hawthorn, that is covered in white flowers in May.

Insects and Trees

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:03 — 30.3MB)

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These are pointed nail galls on a lime leaf, caused by a tiny mite. Photo from this website.

Liam Crowley talks to BTP about the impact of insects on trees and woodlands.

He is an entomologist at University of Birmingham and University of Oxford, specialising in this kind of insect study, in relation to trees (also see the pests and diseases podcast).

There’s also a short piece on the lime.

Tree Identification

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:25 — 24.3MB)

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yew tree berries and leaves up close

Ian McDermott, arboriculturalist, lecturer and trainer for BTP, talks to Chair Tonia Clark about tree identification: how to identify trees. There’s also a short piece on the yew tree, steeped in mystery and myth.

BIFOR

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:54 — 15.3MB)

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horse chestnut branch and flowers

Professor Rob MacKenzie, head of the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFOR) at The University of Birmingham, talks to BTP Chair Tonia Clark, about its pioneering research into climate change and woodlands. There’s also a short piece on the horse chestnut, with its impressive flower spikes.

Health Benefits of Trees

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:09 — 10.9MB)

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Tonia Clark, from Birmingham TreePeople, interviews Eleanor Hoad, Forest School teacher, Urban Forest Volunteer and community gardener, about the health benefits of trees and a short piece on the birch tree, as they are a pioneer species, often found in heather moorlands.

Street Trees

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:41 — 22.8MB)

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Ian McDermott, otherwise known as Mac, leading a street tree survey with urban forest volunteers.
Mac showing volunteers how to survey a street tree

Ian McDermott, arboriculturialist and trainer for BTP, talks to BTP Chair Tonia Clark about the role of street trees and how imperative they really are, which is why we need more of them.

Street trees often go quite unnoticed, but they are an extremely important part of our city and town landscapes. They help reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality, storm-water drainage, amongst many other sought-after qualities.

There’s also a short piece on the oak tree.

Contact Kier if you want a tree planted in your street.