Latest news with #Eucalyptus
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
153 acre green space to come up soon in North Bengaluru
A 153-acre plot of forest land in Madappanahalli near Yelahanka, belonging to the Karnataka Forest Development Corporation Limited (KFDC), was handed over to the Forest Department on Monday for development into a biological park. KFDC Chairman Basavaraju Neelappa Shivannavar formally handed over the land to Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, who said a huge biological park would be developed on that piece of land in the coming days. Mr. Khandre said that the proposed park would be a much-needed green space for north Bengaluru once developed. He said that centuries after the Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park were developed, Bengaluru would be getting a green space of this magnitude. DPR to be prepared He added that a detailed project report will be prepared in the next two months for the development of this plot following which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will lay the foundation stone for the park. An Indira Gandhi Biological Park, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Bird Park, Kempegowda Zoo, Saalumarada Thimmakka Arboretum among others are being planned to be set up, the minister said. The KFDC had planted Eucalyptus trees in this plot which will be cleared and local tree species along with various species of plants and trees native to the Western Ghats would also be planted. ₹20 crore sanctioned Currently, in this 153 acre plot, there are 800 trees along with Eucalyptus, they will be protected, he said. Mr. Khandre said an initial amount of ₹20 crore will be sanctioned for the construction of this park and that the entire plot has been fenced to protect it from encroachment.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Over 30% of the trees lining the elevated corridor stretches marked for felling
A large number of trees are set to be felled and translocated for the six-lane elevated corridors on the National Highway 44 between Paradise Junction and Dairy Farm Road and on the State Highway 1, between Paradise Junction and ORR near Shamirpet, to be built by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. Felling permission has been given by the Tree Protection Committee under the Forest department for a total 3,298 trees, HMDA Director, Urban Forestry, K. Srinivas informed. These constitute more than 30% of the total number of trees on both the stretches, estimated by the Tree Protection Committee to be 10,593. Translocation has been advised for 4,230 trees and 3,095 trees are to be retained. Two locations have been identified for translocation of the identified trees — Nehru Zoological Park and the Telangana Sports School at Hakimpet. Majority of the trees, 9,100 belonging to 90 different species, have been enumerated on the Shamirpet stretch and the Dairy Farm stretch housed 1,493 trees. While the Shamirpet stretch is predominantly lined by Subabul (2,244), Gulmohar (1184) and Eucalyptus (333), a sizeable number were also species such as Neem (675), Pongamia (321), and Ashoka (321). Peltrophorum, Sissoo and others too were in good numbers. 'Tree Protection Committee members inspected all the trees, taken note of the height, girth and the status of the tree, before deciding which tree to retain and which to fell,' the official informed.
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Gardeners urged to use 12p item to keep rats out of gardens
Rats are an unwelcome sight in any garden, but there are ways to keep them at bay. An expert from has shared the best natural methods to deter the pests, and it will only cost you 12p Gardening enthusiasts frequently face challenges with pests like slugs and snails. However, rats can be an especially troublesome issue for those wanting to enjoy their tranquility of the garden without disturbance. Robert Collins has offered his expert advice for keeping these unwelcome guests out of your garden, highlighting a household staple that you'll often find at home. Essential oils are hailed as an excellent method for deterring the troublesome rodents. Regarding essential oils, Mr Collins from advises: "This is one of the safest and most effective natural ways to get rid of rats. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Citronella are great examples of essential oils that are brilliant at deterring rats." He points out that the strong scent of such oils acts as a rat repellent and goes on to explain that you can create a DIY rat-repellent spray by mixing an essential oil with water in a spray bottle. For those keen to try this solution, he suggests a mixture of one part essential oil to nine parts water and advises spraying it along the edges of the garden and any popular rat paths, reports the Mirror. Onions Onions also come into play, according to Mr Collins, who says they are effective rat deterrents due to their strong odour which rats find off-putting. He suggests chopping up a few onions and positioning them around the perimeter of your garden or at any known entryways. This remedy is not only simple but also economical, with onions available from local supermarkets at low costs as little as 21p from Tesco or 95p from Waitrose. Steel wool Steel wool is another suggested option. It can be used to deter rats from entering your garden. The expert suggested: "If there are any visible access points where you know the rats are entering and exiting from, stuff some steel wool into these gaps." He added: "Steel wool is a great barrier as it's difficult for rats to nibble at steel wool. They will eventually give up when they find they can't get through it." How to seal up entry points for rats? Mr Collins recommends using steel wool to effectively seal rat entry points. He advised, "Fill the gaps with steel wool and then put caulk around the steel wool to ensure it stays in place. "Alternatively, you can use spray foam to keep it in place. If there are cracks or openings in your walls, you can apply caulking, which will create an airtight seal that protects your home from pests." He also cautioned about potential entry points via chimneys. In this case, you should install chimney grates. However, this task is best left to professionals. You should also seal any vents with mouse mesh to prevent access. If there are gaps in your roof, you can also fill these with sealants, roof tar, or tiles. He concluded, "Whenever you seal a gap to prevent rats from accessing your property, it's important to always use metal. Rats can chew through most materials."
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK households urged to use 12p item to keep rats out of gardens
An expert has shared some top tips on how to keep rats out of your garden - using just a few household items. One of the items is a kitchen essential that you probably have in your cupboard right now Gardening buffs are no strangers to battling pests like slugs and snails, but rats present a particularly vexing challenge to those who wish to enjoy their plants in peace. Robert Collins from has shared his top tips for keeping these unwanted visitors away from your garden. Better yet, it involves a common household item you're likely to have on hand—essential oils stand out as a go-to measure for fending off the pesky rodents. When it comes to essential oils, Mr Collins recommends: "This is one of the safest and most effective natural ways to get rid of rats. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Citronella are great examples of essential oils that are brilliant at deterring rats." He explains that the potent aroma of such essences acts as a deterrent. He adds that you can create a homemade rat-repellent spray by combining an essential oil with water in a spritz bottle. For anyone eager to try this method, he suggests mixing one part essential oil to nine parts water and spraying the concoction along garden boundaries and spots where rats might frequent, as reported by North Wales Live. Onions Mr Collins reveals that you can use onions to deter rats. Their pungent smell can prevent them from wanting to enter the garden. He recommends slicing few onions and scattering them around your garden's perimeter or any obvious entry can be easily sourced from your local supermarket, with prices as low as 21p at Tesco or 95p at Waitrose. Steel wool Steel wool can be used to block rats' access to your garden. The expert advised: "If there are any visible access points where you know the rats are entering and exiting from, stuff some steel wool into these gaps. He continued: "Steel wool is a great barrier as it's difficult for rats to nibble at steel wool. They will eventually give up when they find they can't get through it." How to seal up entry points for rats? Mr Collins suggests using steel wool to best seal rat entry points. He advised, "Fill the gaps with steel wool and then put caulk around the steel wool to ensure it stays in place. Alternatively, you can use spray foam to keep it in place." If there are cracks or openings in your walls, you can apply caulking, which will create an airtight seal that protects your home from pests. He also warns of potential entry points via chimneys. In this case, you should install chimney grates. Although, this is best left to professionals. You should also seal any vents with mouse mesh to prevent access. If there are gaps in your roof, you can also fill these with sealants, roof tar, or tiles. He added, "Whenever you seal a gap to prevent rats from accessing your property, it's important to always use metal. Rats can chew through most materials."
ABC News
18-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Rare Tasmanian eucalypt primed for climate change as others decline
Eucalypts vulnerable to climate change are in decline across Australia, but scientists say a rare one found only in southern Tasmania is actually expanding its range in part because it is so "well adapted" to warmer, drier conditions. The endemic Risdon peppermint (Eucalyptus risdonii) is a "scraggly looking tree" with unusual blue leaves, found around Risdon Vale on Hobart's eastern shore. Species distribution modelling by consultant Peter Harrison during his PhD predicted an increase in the extent and number of areas suitable for the species by the end of this century. Plant scientist Rebecca Jones, of the Eucalypt Genetics group at the University of Tasmania (UTAS), said the species had proven its ability to adapt to harsh conditions. "I'm recommending people plant it because it's actually one of the only eucalypts that climate modelling predicts will be able to expand its range under future climate change because it loves hot, dry conditions," Dr Jones told ABC Hobart. "There's been research at UTAS on this eucalypt for 40 years or so. There are a few really cool things about it, other than it being totally beautiful." Dr Jones said the species was unusual because it retained its blue-grey baby foliage. "It stays blue. Most trees don't, they go from blue to green," she said. "In fact, the early explorers thought they were two different species and described them as such. "And you can't blame them really, they look pretty different, but they're actually the same thing. "But Eucalyptus risdonii, it holds those juvenile leaves its whole life. So, the whole crown of the canopy are juvenile leaves, and you can see little flower buds coming out on those juvenile leaves. "It's thought that's an adaptation to the sort of harsh conditions that it lives in in [postcode] 7016, on the north-west facing slopes." Eucalypt trees dominate the Australian landscape. Botanists have identified about 900 species of them and 29 are known to be native to Tasmania, including the Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus), mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and brown stringybark ( Known collectively as Tasmanian oak, these are commonly used as building timbers. The Risdon peppermint, on the other hand, has ornamental qualities and is better equipped than some eucalypts to handle climate change. Another Tasmanian eucalypt, the Morrisby gum (Eucalyptus morrisbyi), has suffered catastrophic declines due to rising temperatures and drying soils. "It's kind of a scraggly tree but the foliage itself is quite beautiful," Dr Jones said. "It's the kind of stuff you might see in foliage arrangements." Its smaller size is also better suited than most eucalypts to home gardens. "It doesn't really make a proper tree. It sort of makes a mallee kind of form. So, it sprouts out [like] a little low bush," she said. "But I think that's what lends itself well to planting it in your garden, right? Because it's not going to grow up into a big tree. You can chop out the top of it and it loves that." Dr Jones said research suggests the species' peculiarities "might be an adaptation to extreme environments". As well as its grey-blue baby foliage, it has grey, waxy branches that may "deter things from eating it," she said. "It can help with water conservation and things like that." It has stout leaves, which merge across the stem, making one leaf with the stalk growing up through the middle. "When they're dead, they actually dislodge from the stem while remaining attached to the branch and start spinning around and so when you're walking through that forest in the wind you'll hear it rattling around as it spins," Dr Jones said. Forensic scientist Thais Ribeiro Pfeilsticker, who studied the Risdon peppermint as part of her PhD at UTAS, believes hybridisation is also assisting its spread. Her thesis provided evidence supporting her supervisor Brad Potts's PhD in the 1980s, which hypothesised that hybridisation was contributing to the expansion of the rare tree in the range of the widespread Eucalyptus amygdalina. She said if you went to Risdon reserve, it would be clear the tree had a restricted distribution to the "hotter slopes of the place", but there was evidence that it was expanding its footprint despite the fact eucalypts could not move their seed far. "[My supervisor Brad Potts] came up with this idea that the pollen was actually landing on related species and another species, which is called Eucalyptus amygdalina," Ms Pfeilsticker said. "And by doing that, it was actually expanding its distribution. So instead of like landing and crossing with another risdonii, it was crossing with a different species. And then you would start to grow populations of things that we call hybrids." Dr Jones said it was pleasing to see this type of movement with a rare tree. "It's currently expanding, but very slowly through the seed dispersal mechanism. It won't become more than just rare without human intervention," she said.
