In praise of Pines.
by Chris, 11 May, 2018, 0 comments
Pine trees are found across the world, there are over one hundred different species. Many are native to the coniferous forests (Taiga) of the Northern Hemisphere. Their evergreen needles (leaves) offer shade in summer, and the trees may offer a degree of shelter from the winds of autumn and winter. Gardeners and foresters 'like' Pines as they generally tolerate nutrient poor and somewhat dry soils. In the period after WW2, considerable areas of ‘low grade’ land were pressed into service (in the U.K.). Areas around Thetford and Kielder were used, as were some sandy coastal sites (for example, Holkham in Norfolk) and many large tracts of land in Scotland. Pines are central to the business of agroforestry in places like the U.K, New Zealand and Brazil, providing a source of lumber. Read more...