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.@vasterntimberwww.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 @afforesttFind 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 @treesforlifeukAnd 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/homeFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thewoodlandpresentsOur 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/thewoodlandpresentsOur 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.collectiveSeb's Instagram: @sebastiencoxltdSeb's website: www.sebastiancox.co.ukOur Instagram: @thewoodlandpresentsOur website: www.thewoodland.co/tree-radicals

In this episode, Isabella Tree, conservationist and bestselling author of 'Wilding- the Return of Nature to a British Farm', tells Jez about the rewilding project, she and her husband Charlie Burrel undertook to transform their 3,500-acre estate in West Sussex, Knepp Estate, into a nature-haven, brimming with life.Check out the amazing work being done at Knepp : https://knepp.co.uk/homeAnd our website here https://thewoodland.co/tree-radicals/

In this episode of Tree Radicals, macro photographer on tiny soil animals, Andy Murray,  joins Kath in our very own North Woods in Dartington, home base of the Tree Radicals team, and tells us about the delightful world of Mesofauna, and the huge role they play in our ecosystem. Check out Andy's amazing photography on his website at www.chaosofdelight.org.Find us on Instagram @thewoodlandpresents.A Tree Radicals website is coming soon, but for now you can find us at www.thewoodland.co.

Kath talks to architect Piers Taylor about his award-winning architecture practice 'Invisible Studio', and his ways of working collaboratively with the local community when designing a building. Piers shares his passionate perspective on how forests and woodlands should be a much more essential and integrated part of our culture, and how cities would benefit from more rewilded areas. 

This week Jez talks to Eleanor Harris about her surprisingly positive experience working in commercial forestry, and the need for the timber industry and our natural capital to be integrated into our economic system in order to tackle the environmental challenges of our time in an equitable way. 

Alice Blogg is a wood-based designer-maker running her own business in the Dorset countryside, who believes in using local timber and supporting independent businesses. She tells Kath what inspires her both in her work and in her life, and they discuss sustainability, good reads, and the types of wood she's been discovering in her practice lately. 

Forestry engineer Andrew Heald shares a favourite quote that "forestry isn't about trees, it's about people" and draws some practical and informative links to the importance of a people-centred approach and better communication within the industry. He tells us why it's necessary for forestry certification to better support smaller forest management operations, and for us to develop a more integrated approach in how smaller scale land-use is accommodated by our regulation systems.

Jez talks with Marlene Cramer who is compiling a PHD in properties of hardwoods for structural use. She talks about the importance of establishing and predicting properties of timber for construction and the need to dispel the myth that timber is an infinite resource. 

Is it possible to balance the environment, economy and people's needs? and can we build a stronger integrated land-use system with modern forestry? Jez Ralph talks about these things and more with Confor National manager for England, Caroline Ayre.

Can you improve trees? In This episode, Jo Clark discusses the future of our native forests. She describes how research is helping create a next generation of broadleaved trees that produce better quality timber more quickly and will deliver all the environmental, social and economic benefits that they possibly can. By helping trees to survive longer, sequester more carbon and produce timber quicker, the hope is that many more people will choose to plant broadleaved trees, with all the benefits they will bring to our environment, our society and our economy.

What type of tree should we be building things with? Kath Giles talks with Charley Brentnall - a leader in timber construction and conservation - about the underutilization of certain tree species and sizes of timber, as well as the possibilities that lie within slow grown timber. Charley talks about the joy of high pruning and the future of timber construction in the UK and what that might look like. 

Meet the Tree Radical hosts, Jez Ralph and Kath Giles as they launch Tree Radicals the podcast!