Tree Walk

This lunch time we went on a tree walk. These are really interesting and you learn such a lot of trivia about trees. Keele has an arboretum and over recent years they have been tagging and indexing the trees. http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/intro/about.htm

Today we were shown how to identify an oak and a cherry tree in winter. Do you know that inside the cherry bud is all of next years growth but in minature - no neither did I!

We were shown English and Turkey Oak and told how to tell the difference - Turkey Oak has longer leaves! We were also shown a Knopper Gall which is an insect that affects the acorns. However there has to be a Turkey Oak and an English Oak in close proximity. http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/articles/oaks.htm

In general an oak tree that lives out in the open grows approx one inch in circumference each year - I wonder if the same happens to us humans ... as my waist size seems to be growing with age! Anyway back to the trees. The particular oak we were looking at was approximately 150/170 years old. In later life trees do not grow as much. Also trees that are found in woods do not grow at the same rate!

We were shown various cherry trees ... but they are far better to look at when in blossom! http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/trees/cherries/aboutcherries.htm

Trees that have had branches cut or broken will try and repair themselves. You often see bark growing back over the cut (or wound). Trees do this to strenthen themselves - and you thought trees didn't have a brain!

Very interesting and informative lunch. More details of the trees we saw can be found here http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/intro/index.htm