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AI-assisted edit of a timber-frame construction site in Farnham, Surrey. Britain’s Timber Problem Britain is one of the least forested countries in Europe. Woodland covers around 14% of UK land area, compared with substantially higher levels across much of the continent.[1,2] And the UK imports roughly 70-80% of its timber and wood products[3]. That's remarkable for a country with growing conditions well suited to productive commercial forestry, particularly high-quality soft

A couple of years ago I was drifting over the British countryside in a hot air balloon, looking down at the patchwork of fields below, when I noticed something unusual. Huge rings were in the grass beneath us. I asked the pilot what they were. “Fairy rings,” he said. “You don’t see large ones much anymore.” These enormous rings are formed by fungi spreading slowly outward underground over many years. As the fungus grows, it changes the availability of nutrients and water in t

It's a question I've asked myself more than once. Woodlands existed for thousands of years before humans showed up with chainsaws and management plans, so why do we suddenly need to intervene? The honest answer is both humbling and a little uncomfortable - because we already intervened. Just not in a good way. Young growth, established woodland, open sky. A Green Up Britain planting site. For millennia, British woodlands weren't truly wild, but they were naturally balanced. L

One of my favourite projects yet, the Hollywood-style bug house we've been working really hard on is now sitting in the centre of...

A few weeks ago, we were in Gostrey Meadow, in Farnham town centre, at Farnham Town Council's Community Day. We were one of a number of...

A few weekends ago we added to a hedgerow that we planted up the year before in Farnham Park. We incorporated more tree species into the...

Last weekend we braved the icy cold to add some more alder trees to Carron Pond in Farnham. The ones we planted there before, with Volvo,...

Remember this brilliant Greenpeace advert from 2021? It really highlights our problem with plastic, especially since we produce more...

A few weeks ago, I gave a talk on biodiversity at the Farnham Sustainability Festival, and wanted to share the key points from my...

We've had a busy few months since Christmas planting trees in Headley Down Nature Reserve (HNDR), Farnham and Wales (twice), plus holding...

On November 1st we launched a seed bank at the Maltings Arts and Cultural Centre in Farnham, to help increase biodiversity in gardens. It...

A couple of weeks ago I (Kaz) was lucky enough to complete the BEC (Birmingham Enterprise Community) Sustainability and Circular Economy...

I've never collected seeds before, and since we're installing a seed bank in Farnham soon, I thought I'd write a post to help anyone who,...

...and increase biodiversity in our town. On November 1st we'll be placing a lockable seed bank at Farnham Maltings, for people to swap...

Biodiversity or 'biological diversity' encompasses all living organisms (animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms plus the diversity...

Seed balls (aka seed/bee bombs) are brilliant. I've used seed balls many times now, and can honestly say they're a great way to grow...

Greenwashing is a term bandied around a lot these days. It refers to situations where companies convey a false impression, or provide...

Have you ever tried sound bathing? I have and it's a great way to unwind. Tess, Founder of Healing Frequencies in Farnham, uses Tibetan...

What a great day! The weather was amazing and the atmosphere was too. There were some fantastic stalls - the Farnham Community Farm (who...

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of meeting plant-based chef, Gaz Oakley, when we planted a mixture of fruit trees in his garden...