Japanese honey bee worker adults (like their European cousins) feed on nectar and play a crucial role in pollination as a result - transferring pollen from one plant to another. Like most species, bees are targeted by predators but some Japanese bees have found a brilliant way to repel one—the Japanese giant hornet . When the hornet attacks, several hundred Japanese honey bees form a ball around the hornet and vibrate their flight muscles to produce heat. As this continues, temperatures surrounding the hornet rise to 47 degrees Celsius. This temperature is high enough to be lethal to the hornet, but does no harm to the honey bees. 11. Bee Bench/Wildflower Meadow This bench is sited on one of our new wildflower meadow areas. We have sown seeds here to help increase the variety of plants and flowers on site to provide food for wildlife, especially bees. Our garden also contains a colony of bees in a tradional beehive. Rosliston Forestry Centre’s Japanese Trail A woodland walk celebrating 20 years of partnership between South Derbyshire and Toyota City 1998—2018 Explore our part of The National Forest and find out what we have in common with our friends from Japan - and experience the differences and similarities in the ways we enjoy nature. Environmental Education Project at Rosliston Forestry Centre roslistonenved This leaflet was produced by South Derbyshire District Council’s Environmental Education Project team Oct 2018, with thanks to Koichiro Kuno san for information and advice. If you require it in large print please contact 01283 535039
Transcript
Japanese honey bee worker adults (like their European cousins) feed on nectar and play a crucial role in pollination as a result - transferring pollen from one plant to another. Like most species, bees are targeted by predators but some Japanese bees have found a brilliant way to repel one—the Japanese giant hornet . When the hornet attacks, several hundred Japanese honey bees form a ball around the hornet and vibrate their flight muscles to produce heat. As this continues, temperatures surrounding the hornet rise to 47 degrees Celsius. This temperature is high enough to be lethal to the hornet, but does no harm to the honey bees.
11. Bee Bench/Wildflower Meadow
This bench is sited on one of our new wildflower meadow areas. We have sown seeds here to help increase the variety of plants and flowers on site to provide food for wildlife, especially bees.
Our garden also contains a colony of bees in a traditional beehive.
Rosliston Forestry Centre’s Japanese Trail
A woodland walk celebrating 20 years of partnership between South Derbyshire and Toyota City 1998—2018
Explore our part of The National Forest and find out what we have in common with our friends from Japan - and experience the
differences and similarities in the ways we enjoy nature.
Environmental Education Project
at Rosliston Forestry Centre
roslistonenved
This leaflet was produced by South Derbyshire District Council’s Environmental Education Project team Oct 2018,
with thanks to Koichiro Kuno san for information and advice.
If you require it in large print please contact 01283 535039
Generations of Japanese artisans wove baskets from strips of bamboo to use for everything from
carrying crops to displaying flowers. More recently artists have started to create sculptures from
bamboo stems.
9. Willow Dome & Hedge
Weaving baskets, chairs and screens from willow and other native trees is a traditional British
craft going back many generations. Do have a go at weaving a section of our willow fence as you
pass by.
In Japan, the masses of cherry blossom (Sakura)are thought to resemble clouds and because of
the brief blooming & quick passing of the flowers to symbolize the fleeting nature of life.
In spring, many Japanese take part in ‘hanami’ festivals, literally meaning "flower watching".
Hanami usually involves admiring cherry blossoms with family or friends.
Today, many just take the opportunity to picnic and socialise but traditionally Hanami (which
dates back to the Heian period 794-1185) was more of a philosophical activity used to consider
the past and the possibilities of the future.
10. Cherry Trees
To add to the cherry species already at Rosliston we are adding a new one in honour of the 20th
anniversary of the partnership between Derbyshire and Toyota City
The new trees are Japanese flowering cherries (‘Great White, Tai haku’) planted in the new
section of the tree trail on 29th Oct 2018.
Japanese Trail Map
Okunoshima Island, Seto Inland Sea, in Hiroshima Prefecture is most often known as Usagi Jima, meaning Rabbit Island. It is so named for the hundreds of friendly feral rabbits that call it home. Look it up online - you will be amazed!
8. Rabbit Sculptures
We have a love / hate relationship with rabbits in Britain— pet owners enjoy the companionship of their rabbits whilst farmers and foresters find their tree and crop eating habits costly and annoying.
Now that the trees have grown here the rabbits are less of a problem and we celebrate their popularity with children by including them in our Sculpture Trail ’Wild and Woody’
This is our newest pond!
We have received grants from Veolia, Awards for All, Derbyshire County Council, the National Forest Company and the Mease Project Group to develop this into a resource for learning about the natural environment.
Most Japanese garden ponds feature koi fish specially bred over centuries for their beautiful colours which add to your enjoyment of the colours and textures of the garden. Visiting a koi fish pond is considered a nice way to unwind after a hectic day .
7. Kate’s Pond
D B
‘Nihon teien’ is a traditional Japanese landscape garden. The construction of Japanese gardens
can appear deceptively simple. Features like subtly varied areas of level, raked gravel, a
central pond and an arrangement of garden stones and plants ensure that there is something
to enjoy in all seasons. Creating views both within and beyond the garden is often a key part
of the design.
Hosted in our sensory garden is a traditional Japanese lantern, part of an exchange of
lanterns made with Toyota City to celebrate 10 years of partnership.
1. The Sensory Garden A garden area designed to stimulate the senses through texture, smell, colour and sound. Our garden is split into
three distinct areas all typical of British gardening: a herb garden, a sensory garden and a wildlife garden.
See how many references to Japanese myths, customs and tree uses you can spot as you
follow the tree trail.
Autumn leaves, known as ‘koyo’ in Japanese, draw just as many visitors in autumn as the cherry blossoms do during spring. The Japanese maple
tree is regarded as the most beautiful of the autumn trees.
2. The Tree Trail The tree trail was planted between 1995
and 2018 (and will continue). It showcases a range of trees: native and exotic,
evergreen and deciduous, some grown for wildlife and others for timber. The trail
varies with the seasons in colour, blossom and leaf and includes several from the
cherry and maple families—species prized in both Britain and Japan.
The Japanese Oak - like ours- provides very hard durable wood. Their word “Oak” (樫 ,
kasha) combines elements meaning ‘hard’ & ‘wood’) and has been used for centuries to make
everyday tools including hammers and hoes as well as musical instruments like Japanese Taiko
drums.
6. Major Oak
Shinrin-yoku means ‘’taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." This philosophy of enjoying all the sights and sounds of the forest
during a peaceful relaxing walk was developed through research in Japan during the 1980s. It has
become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy
throughout the world. Look out for ‘Forest Bathing’ walks and courses in The National
Forest….
Sitka Spruce is renowned for its beauty and acoustic characteristics. Its excellent woodworking properties make it valued in Japan for making things like musical instruments, panelling, sauna fittings and shoji screens.
4. Sitka Spruce/Tree Trail
This tree is grown in Britain for its timber properties. The wood is very strong and flexible and used for building construction, ships and plywood. Its cousin, the Norway Spruce, can also be found on our Tree Trail and is the traditional British Christmas Tree .
The cherry blossom (桜, sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture. There are many dozens of cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The seasonal spectacle is celebrated with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the trees.
Cherry trees are often planted in Japan, and by Japanese people elsewhere, in memory of people who have died, for example in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
3. Wild Cherry/Tree Trail
The wild cherry or gean is a tall, handsome, deciduous tree that can grow to 100ft (30m). In spring, when covered with a mass of flowers, it is a spectacular sight attracting many insects.
There are four different cherry species on our tree trail—once you are familiar with them look for their wild cousins around the site.
Many of our tree trail trees commemorate events or people.
Oak trees are an important part of British woodland culture stretching back thousands of
years. Our Major Oaks would have marked field,
property and village boundaries. Other oaks have been used for building ships and buildings.
A shortage of mature oaks and other trees for building projects in 1918 led to the formation of
the Forestry Commission in 1919 and indirectly to the planting of our woodland in 1993-5 by the
Forestry Commission who own this land.
Designed to let you relax and watch
the clouds drift by above, see what they resemble, where they are going and maybe what
weather they predict…
Imagining shapes of animals in the clouds is something that children often enjoy and talking
