Dear Lance, thank you for your comments! I agree because most people look for flowers and the more coloured and garish the better, whereas the simple things can be just as beautiful in their own right.
Unfortunately the normal Sycamore is a pest here as; it is not native and of course seeds itself prolifically here in the rich fertile soils the some native trees like, especially English oak or Quercus robur. This endemic tree supports untold insects and other beneficial wildlife. Oaks can be slow from an Acorn, whereas Sycamores are not from seed, so they tend to easily take over to the determent of our own native species. One of or endemic beetles, our Stag beetle Lucanus cervus is the largest insect in Europe and unfortunately once a common sight is now becoming rare. Mostly due to Habitat loss, but this species loves oak, especially dead wood or rotting stumps. Most gardeners clear these up and developers certainly do not want them, nowhere for the larva to live for the 3-5 years they need to last but a little time as adults. If an oak sheds dead wood or dies the ground it is quickly taken by Sycamores, not good.
Funnily enough with Stag beetles, everyone is scared of them for the male has huge jaws like a Stags antlers, but they cannot bite at all and are harmless. It is the females with their small jaws that can inflict pain, we all know about that! They are called May bugs or Doodle Bugs over here as you can see the big males in flight.
As for spiders, I love them too but do not really not know enough about them (species wise), apart from they are most welcome in my garden.
As for the Flamethrower I agree with burning Annual weeds off with a light touch, but as for the perennial weeds that get in the paving cracks and non planted areas, by giving them a good heating it kills the roots. Mine can be turned down to an almost welding torch flame, so therefore gives out a lot of heat and that is what it says in the destructions and seems to work.
Nice of you to pop in, I do appreciate it.
My Kindest Regards.
Neil.
