The image shows a tall pine tree reaching up towards a cloudy blue sky. Pine trees are known for their distinctive needles, which are arranged in clusters, and their scaly bark. There are many different types of pine trees, and they can grow to be very tall, with the sugar pine being the largest and tallest species. Some pine trees, like the Scots pine, have orange-brown bark, while others, like the Bhutan pine, have blue-green needles. The tallest living pine tree is a ponderosa pine in Oregon, which is over 268 feet 4 inches (81.79 meters) tall.
This Ponderosa Pine was found in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, specifically on the Wild Rivers Ranger District. The tree was measured using laser technology and direct climbing methods, confirming its height.
Structural Lumber
Ponderosa pine is extensively used as dimensional lumber in light construction. Its timber is easily milled and was one of the first western woods shipped in quantity to eastern markets in the early 20th century. Common construction uses have included framing (studs and joists), roof decking, and sheathing in houses where only moderate strength is required. By the mid-20th century, annual production of ponderosa pine lumber was very high; for example, harvests exceeded 3 billion board feet per year by the late 1930s and peaked at over 4 billion board feet in 1941.
In addition to sawtimber, ponderosa pine is used in round log form for various purposes. The straight trunks were historically sought for utility poles and fence posts; when properly dried or treated, the wood has fair durability in these uses. Early 20th-century mining operations also used ponderosa pine for mine timbers and tunnel supports. The wood from younger, fast-grown ponderosa pines tends to warp, limiting its use in structural applications. Historically, the highest quality heavy timbers came from large, old-growth trees.
In Nuclear Testing During Operation Upshot–Knothole in 1953, a nuclear test was performed in which 145 ponderosa pines were cut down by the United States Forest Service and transported to Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site, where they were planted into the ground and exposed to a nuclear blast to see what the blast wave would do to a forest. The trees were partially burned and blown over.
Hafren Forest, located near Llanidloes in Mid Wales, is a popular destination for walking and enjoying the scenery, particularly around the source of the River Severn. The forest is named after Afon Hafren, the Welsh name for the River Severn, and offers various trails that lead to the river’s source and waterfalls, including the famous Severn-Break-its-Neck.
The forest itself was planted in the 1930s by the Forestry Commission. It’s lined with thousands of Pine and Spruce Trees. Offering around 15 square miles of breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. Home to a variety of rare bird species, including buzzards, goshawks, red kites, and merlins. In addition, nearly all of the UK’s native freshwater fish species can be found in its waters, making it a biodiversity hotspot.
Location: Situated in the Cambrian Mountains, about 6 miles (9.65km) west of Llanidloes
River Severn: The forest is known for the River Severn, with its source located just outside the forest boundary on the slopes of Pumlumon.
Walking Trails: There are several waymarked trails, ranging from shorter walks to the waterfalls within the forest to longer routes leading to the river’s source. Walks through the forest will take you between 30 minutes and 4.5 hours, with terrain ranging from a man-made boardwalk to loose stone and steep slopes depending on what you pick.
Accessible Trail: A boardwalk trail provides access to a viewing platform over the cascades.
Other Activities: The forest also offers opportunities for picnicking, wildlife spotting, and enjoying the natural landscape
Historic Interest: The forest includes some heritage features, such as a standing stone and the remains of a mine.
Commercial Forestry: While managed for recreation and wildlife, Hafren Forest is also a commercial forest, producing timber for various uses.
Get in touch Location: Hafren Forest, near Llanidloes, Powys
The Bottle Tree, scientifically known as Pachypodium lealii, is a unique native plant to Namibia and Angola.
It’s characterised by its swollen bottle neck trunk which stores water for survival in dry environments. The plant also has slender spiny branches and leaves clustered towards the tips.
But it should not be underestimated, as the milky sap is toxic with a lactic juice that was used as an arrow poison by Namibian hunters causing blindness if it gets into the eyes.
Pachypodium lealii is one of the giants of the genus; it is the largest of the continental African species, occasionally obtaining a height of over 8 metres (26 ft) in height. Of the continental species, P. lealii has the most arborescent form. It grows with a single, or sometimes double trunk, though damaged plants may have multiple trunks. The bark is pale and varies in colour from grey to creamy to tan to pinkish. The trunk is generally conical, tapering gradually from base to top. In very old plants the trunk can be more parallel-sided.
However tall P. lealii grows, it’ll be almost entirely branchless until the very top. The leaves grow on slender branches and are jealously defended from herbivores by sharp spines.
Around May to November the leaves will all drop off as the Bottle Tree diverts all its effort into growing surprisingly extravagant flowers. The flowers are pink to white and dark red towards the centre. It has shiny, leathery leaves which can measure up to 20cm in length.
The plant is protected and listed on CITES 2, according to Namibian.org
The Big Belly Oak is a sessile oak tree (Quercus petraea). It is enormously fat, with a girth of over 11 meters.The oak has a large cavity in its centre, likely an effect of pollarding.
The Big Belly Oak is the oldest oak in the Savernake Forest; Wiltshire, England, estimated around 1,000 years old. It would have been a young tree at around the time that William the Conqueror defeated King Harold in 1066. As part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, the Big Belly Oak was named as one of 50 Great British Trees, a collection of significant trees in the United Kingdom.
The Big Belly Oak grows by the side of the A346 road between Marlborough and Burbage, but a walk into the lovely Savernake Forest is the best way of viewing this ancient tree. It is one of many ancient oak trees in the Savernake Forest, including the New Queen Oak, the Queen Oak, the Saddle Oak 1, the Spider Oak; the Cathedral Oak, and the King of Limbs
Old growth forest, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Vancouver Island is renowned for its extensive old-growth forests, particularly on the west coast. Popular areas for exploring these ancient forests include Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and the forests near Port Renfrew.
Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park: This park is celebrated for its massive old-growth trees, particularly in the Carmanah and Walbran valleys.
Here you will see Sitka spruce and Giant Western Red Cedars. Some of the trees, including the Carmanah Giant (a Sitka spruce), are among the tallest in Canada, with some reaching heights of over 95 meters (314 ft). These trees, along with other species like western hemlock and coast Douglas-fir, contribute to the park’s rich and diverse ecosystem.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: The western side of the island, including Pacific Rim, is home to lush rainforests and accessible trails that allow visitors to experience the old-growth forests. Meares Island, accessible through tours, is a noteworthy destination.
You will see Giant Western Red Cedar and Sitka spruce, as well as understory plants like moss, lichen, and ferns.
Port Renfrew: Known as the “Tall Trees Capital of Canada,” Port Renfrew boasts a concentration of large trees and old-growth groves, many of which are accessible through the Port Renfrew Big Trees Map.
You will see the Red Creek Fir (the world’s largest Douglas-fir tree), San Juan Spruce, Harris Creek Spruce, Big Lonely Doug (Canada’s second-largest Douglas-fir), and more!
Hiking: Many of these areas have well-established hiking trails that allow for close-up exploration of the old-growth forests.
Protecting the Forests: There are ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests, with organizations like the Ancient Forest Alliance advocating for their conservation.
Other Notable Areas: Cathedral Grove in McMillan Provincial Park offers a magical walk among giant trees. Francis/King Regional Park in the Victoria area also features large Douglas-fir trees.
Tree Weaver 