Russell Rowley

Writer. Land Manager. Continuous Cover Forester. Outdoorsman. Seeker.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

What if we had a World where politics was to ensure a fair distribution of resources. Health service prevention as well as sickness. Education joy of learning and critical thinking. Business growing people and reinvesting in sustainable products. Society building community. YES !

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Severn Valley railway Bridgnorth.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

We live in one of the most regulated forestry sectors in the World. UKWAS, certification and Forestry Commission as well as English Nature of its an SSSI.

I can’t tell from your photo whether that’s well managed or not or comment without seeing it. If the trees have been felled illegally, presumably you have reported it.

Most ancient woodland isn’t managed at all which is a big contributor to nature loss. I’ve managed some of the most biodiverse ancient woodlands in the UK, removing thousands of tonnes of timber in Continuous Cover principles. Pre and post ecological reports showed big increases in numbers of breeding bird species, invertebrates and small mammals.

The longest study of an unmanaged woodland at Ladypark wood in Monmouth by woodland ecologist Dr George Peterken showed that over 80 years, this previously managed wood had become much less biodiverse, due to an increase in shade.

I do understand that seeing trees felled as part of thinning is upsetting if it’s a wood people know well. None of us like change.

As for profit. Most woodland owners make a loss and are paid very poorly for their trees.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

@lara_spirit @nuwandiss The problem will come when new AI Minister ‘Claude’ sacks the other Ministers and takes over the government.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Spalted beech

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Speckled wood

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

I understand though depends what you mean by natural materials. For example I’ve used pavotherm insulation. Made from sawdust and compressed to sufficient pressure, the cellulose makes a natural glue to form a block. Waterproofed with a thin layer of natural rubber.

All ‘green’ building is a compromise of materials, embodied energy, cost, fire resistance etc.

I helped design and managed an award winning large timber frame building from scratch with natural materials including sheep’s wool, larch cladding, cedar shingles and pavotherm to Passivhaus airtightness standards (yet breathable) with MHVR recapturing waste heat.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

@MerlinTomkins Yep. So many no thin poorly managed conifer woods in North Wales need conversion to Continuous Cover.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

@SarahCholwill It’s oriental plane rather than London plane because the leaves are more deeply cut.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

@SBarrettBar It has gone weird. I don’t see posts of several people I follow at all. I guess you’ve selected Recent rather than Relevant or Likes in settings at bottom left little house 🏠 button ?

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

@mir_ocall Plenty here on Escallonia and Marjoram. Guess the heat is causing them problems though.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Comma butterfly 🦋

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Will they be characters in your book?

I’ve met some wonderful characters on trains. Like the lady in her eighties who no one seemed to want to sit next to, so I did.

They missed out. What a character, recently widowed after a very long marriage, nervous about her first solo holiday.

Been doing her bucket list ‘before she dies’. Me thinking, that’s lovely, a trip to Italy maybe, afternoon tea at the Ritz. NO !! Actually:

‘I persuaded my cousin to come with me in the front carriage on the Blackpool rollercoaster, you know, the one that does 70 mph. Took me ages to persuade him to come, he was terrified’.

Me, asking slightly nervously:

‘What’s next on your bucket list?’

‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to take a helicopter ride so did that last week’.

It was a joyful, poignant conversation and wonderful to see her face light up when she was describing the rollercoaster.

I wondered afterwards whether perhaps she was Tom Cruise’s Aunt.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Incredibly impressive including the Purple Martin 🐦

[stevie stevenson @turtle__mayne]

Dude I cannot stop watching this kid. This is the most impressive thing I’ve seen in a very long time. The crow is unreal

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Female Gatekeeper butterfly 🦋 on flowering Marjoram together with honey bees 🐝 .

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

@LewensWill Like its design, what’s the history of the roof finials that look like dragons ?

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Really Free.

https://t.co/Wre7nRPrHw

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Free Speech has to mean that in a mature society. Otherwise the next step is the thought police à la Orwell.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

Red tailed bumble bee.

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

If Andy Burnham picked his World Cup team: ⚽️

Goalkeeper - Ed Miliband (Net Zero)
Defence - Alister Cairns
Right Wing - Shabana Mahmood
Left Wing - Hilary Benn
Centre Half - Yvette Cooper
Left Back - David Miliband
Right Back - David Lammy
Wingers - Wes Streeting, Dan Jarvis
Striker - Angela Rayner
Captain - Andy Burnham

Subs: too many contenders to mention