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Introduction: I receive
many requests from people for help to identify trees. It can seem quite
overwhelming for any beginner to find a way to get to know the many
different species we encounter in our streets, gardens, parks and woodlands.
Learning about trees is not so different from getting to know your human
friends! It helps immensely to be introduced to them in a friendly relaxed
environment and spend a little quality time with them.
So it seemed a good idea to point our website visitors to some of the
excellent opportunities available to us in the UK to give ourselves such a
life-enhancing experience.
The courses described below are run by Jerry Dicker for the FSC and are
highly recommended. Jerry is dedicated tree man, both in his private and
professional life. He is a practicing arboricultural consultant, held in
high esteem by his peers, with many years of teaching experience. The
courses are held in beautiful areas of the country and would make an
excellent focus for any holiday. All the more so if you are able to add on a
few extra days exploring by yourself after you have been inspired by all you
have learned in the company of like-minded souls. - Anna Fraser (webmother
of www.the-tree.org.uk)
Tree identification courses
(by
Jerry Dicker, Arboriculturist)
The best way to get to know
trees is to go out and meet them. Books
and keys are invaluable but I aim to increase your confidence by showing you
the easy ways to distinguish one tree from another.
This is the philosophy of the three tree identification courses which I run
for the Field Studies Council at two of their Centres.
Trees and Woodland
2-6 May 2006
Orielton Field
Studies Centre
in Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
Tel: 0845 330 7372
Residential: £240 - Non-Residential: £195
This course focuses
on the trees, woodland flowering plants and ferns found in the mostly
native woodland surrounding Orielton.
We include a visit to a local arboretum to see some more exotic
tree species. We also
look at woodland management and history and how trees work.
Beginners and improvers are welcome. |
Orielton is an elegant Georgian mansion set in 48 hectares of its
own grounds situated on the Castlemartin peninsula, three miles south
of Pembroke. It is immediately adjacent to the Pembrokeshire Coast
National Park and close to the National Nature Reserves of Skomer and
Stackpole.
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Introduction to
Tree Identification
2-4 June 2006
Kindrogan Field
Studies Centre
near Pilochry in Scotland
Tel: 01250 870150
Residential: £135 - Non-Residential: £105
Aimed at beginners or
near beginners, this is the first of two courses at Kindrogan.
We visit local woodlands and tree collections to learn how to
recognise the commonest broadleaves and conifers. |
Kindrogan is situated in its own wooded grounds on the banks of the
River Ardle in the picturesque Scottish Highlands. It lies within easy
reach of some of the remotest areas of the UK with inspiring landforms
and rich range of wildlife habitats.
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Tree Identification
and Tree Ecology
4-7 June 2006
Kindrogan Field
Studies Centre
near Pilochry in Scotland
Tel: 01250 870150
Residential: £190 - Non-Residential: £150
This course
reinforces tree identification skills and follows on from the previous
course but is self-contained. We
visit local forests and tree collections and also learn about tree
biology, woodland plants, woodland management and history.
Perthshire has some remarkable trees (see www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk
) |
paths
waiting to be explored
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The Field Studies
Council run tree courses at several of their 17 centres throughout the
UK.
To find out more about the centres and the many other courses go to www.field-studies-council.org.
Or
contact me for further information:
Jerry Dicker, BA (Oxon), DTEO (Man), Tech Cert (Arbor A)
email:
jjdicker@blueyonder.co.uk
website: www.treesjerrydicker.co.uk
Below
is
a picture of Jerry at work as an arboricultural consultant,
with a Picus Sonic Tomograph, a non-invasive method
to diagnose the health of this veteran tree.
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