Introduced warm-season perennial large tufted C4 grass; stems usually have hairy nodes, grow 30-200 cm tall and arise from short rhizomes. Leaf bases may be hairy and blades are 10-60 cm long and 3-14 mm wide. Flowerheads are narrow cylindrical bristly spike-like panicles to 18 cm long. Spikelets are 2-flowered and are surrounded by uniformly coloured bristles that remain after the spikelets fall; the upper glume is 40-55% of the spikelet's length. Flowers from early summer to autumn. A native of Africa, it occurs is sown as a pasture species, especially on medium to heavy soils of high fertility; it has also become naturalised on the North West Slopes and Plains. Easy to establish on heavy clays and is tolerant of drought and temporary waterlogging. Has superior production to most other tropical grasses in its first and second year after establishment. Oxalates may affect horses and cattle. Has reasonable palatability and feed quality below about 40 cm in height, but quickly runs to head and is then avoided by stock; generally preferred by cattle rather than sheep. Graze frequently to maintain quality. Heavy grazing in late summer promotes autumn germination of winter annual legumes; however its abundance will decline under heavy continuous grazing. Sufficient soil nitrogen is essential for its persistence.

Introduced cool-season annual hairless herbaceous C3 legume 20-60 cm tall. Stems are erect, thick and hollow when elongated (variety majus) or more prostrate, thinner and solid (variety resupinatum). Leaves have 3 ovate leaflets, each strongly veined, toothed and on stalks of equal length. Flowerheads extend beyond surrounding leaves and are ball-shaped clusters of many white, pink or violet pea-like flowers; maturing into white woolly fruit. Flowers in spring and early summer. A native of Europe, the Mediterranean and SW Asia, majus is sown as an annual fodder and resupinatum is used more for grazing. Best suited to clay soils with pHCa 5-8 and requires a medium-high winter rainfall or irrigation. Provides both a high potential nitrogen input into soils and high-quality cool-season feed. Has excellent waterlogging tolerance and moderate salinity tolerance. Causes bloat in cattle; sow with oats or ryegrass to reduce risk. Sometimes causes photosensitisation. Majus is soft seeded so requires annual sowing; resupinatum is harder seeded so is more self-regenerating. Can produce high forage yields with good regrowth potential after cutting/grazing, but needs irrigation or good spring rains to maximise late spring growth. Make into hay or silage in spring; up to 2 cuts are possible.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Work along this stretch of the river bank involves an amount of manual, back-breaking work.

Introduced warm-season perennial tufted to shortly rhizomatous C4 grass; stems are branching, ascending to erect and to 100 cm tall. Leaves are 2-13 mm wide, 3-30 cm long and green to blue-green. Flowerheads are cylindrical spike-like contracted panicles up to 15 cm long and usually purplish when young. Spikelets are surrounded by bristles that form a soft burr and which fall with the spikelets at maturity. Burrs are 12 mm long, with one bristle longer than the others and bristles are antrorsely barbed; inner bristles are hairy in the lower part and fused only at the base forming a short disc. Flowers from late spring to autumn. A native of the northern hemisphere, it is sometimes sown as a pasture and is commonly a weed of sandy areas; also occurs on sandy loams to clay loams. Most common on the Plains and western edges of the Slopes. Seeds are difficult to sow and but it is very persistent summer-growing species which is not suited to short-term pastures as it is difficult to remove. Prefers well-drained soils and does not tolerate prolonged flooding or waterlogging. Very drought tolerant and responds quickly to rain, but requires fertile soils for production and is frost sensitive. Moderately palatable, but causes big head in horses. May out compete native pastures and is a weed of roadsides.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of September 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed. In preparation for the river-bank strengthening/protection along this stretch of the river, a 2nd channel was created -- with the intention of diverting the river. Having endured a similar flooding only days earlier, another heavy fall of rain caused the channels to fill up again. It meant starting all over again - draining this road/bank side channel, cutting a release channel near the bridge to release the volume, and activating pumps to assist with the repeated drainage. Matters were never helped by the overflow pipe which siphoned run-off from the adjacent motorway! Always quite amazing to see how water levels could drain away within a few days. The question would always be -- how much work could be completed before the (inevitable) next run of water? The following sequences show how the guys reinforced the river bed/bank: spreading out, and stitching in a membrane, layout out wire creels, filled with medium sized stones, welded shut, and laid out in grids, particularly the sections alongside the road/bank side.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Introduced, yearlong-green, perennial, large, tufted grass. Stems are rounded, up to 1.5 m tall and often reddish at their base. A native of the Mediterranean, it is sown in the

Upper Hunter and further south; naturalised along

roadsides. Prefers more fertile soils. Waterlogging and frost

tolerant, but most varieties are sensitive to soil acidity and aluminium.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Another heavy fall of rain, causing a surge in the river flow, swamping (yet again!) river bank protection work already in progress.

A representative soil profile of the Boulderwood series (Ruptic Stagnic Albic Podzols) in England. (Cranfield University 2021. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK.)

Soils classified and described by the World Reference Base for England and Wales:

www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/wrb_list.cfm

Boulderwood soils are very acid soils. They occur in the New Forest where river terrace drift and Plateau Gravel cover Tertiary clays, loamy and sands. In the north of the forest, the soils are on a series of flat-topped ridges which descend southward from 125 to 60 m O.D. Further south the association is extensive on level ground at 30-45 m O.D. The sequence of terraces formed by the deposits is related to a former eastward flowing "Solent River".

Subsoil pans and other slowly permeable layers impede vertical water movement through Bolderwood soils by causing seasonal waterlogging (Wetness Class III or IV). Excess winter rain is absorbed slowly and water commonly ponds on the land surface after heavy rain but there is little run-off. Southampton soils are permeable and well drained (Wetness Class I).

The proportion of enclosed agricultural land is small and use is limited to grass paddocks for horses and cattle. Most of the land is open forest grazed by horses, cattle and pigs with heath vegetation dominated by ling (Calluna vulgaris). Investigation of buried profiles and pollen analysis has shown that the development of podzols was in part related to woodland clearance for agriculture, probably in the Bronze Age, and the subsequent invasion of cleared and impoverished land by heath.

For additional information about the soil association, visit:

www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/mapunit.cfm?mu=64303

For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:

www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf

2013年8月 - 黑龍江省同江市8月16日發生的洪災淹沒了不少村落，大量房屋、農田和道路被淹，災後一個月水仍未消退。

Aug 2013 - On 16 August, many villages, houses, farmland and roads were flooded in Tongjiang Prefecture, Heilongjiang Province. The waterlogging has lasted for more than 1 month.

Introduced, warm-season, perennial, erect C4 grass to 1.2 m tall; plant tufts are joined by thick stolons and stem bases are flattened. Leaf sheath-blade junctions are usually hairy. Flowerheads are digitate or subdigitate, with 6-18 thick branches (5-10 cm long) often in 2 whorls. Spikelets are 3-4-flowered, blunt-tipped, greenish brown and 2-awned. Flowering is from spring to autumn. A native of Africa, it is widely sown as a pasture species and roadside stabilizer. Requires reasonably well-drained soils. Suited to drier and less fertile conditions than setaria or kikuyu, but persists best under fertile conditions. Doesn’t tolerate very acid soils or high exchangeable aluminium. Suited as pioneer species as it easily establishes from seed, spreads by stolons and is a good binder of soils. Very drought tolerant, moderately frost tolerant, but has poor waterlogging tolerance. Capable of high yields and has low oxalate levels. Range of varieties that range from pioneering types that are good for soil conservation but are low quality, to higher quality varieties for grazing. Persists best under fertile conditions and responds strongly to nitrogen in the presence of adequate phosphorus. To maintain good feed value, keep growth relatively short and maintain a legume component.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Work along this stretch of the river bank involves an amount of manual, back-breaking work.

Introduced warm-season perennial large tufted C4 grass; stems usually have hairy nodes, grow 30-200 cm tall and arise from short rhizomes. Leaf bases may be hairy and blades are 10-60 cm long and 3-14 mm wide. Flowerheads are narrow cylindrical bristly spike-like panicles to 18 cm long. Spikelets are 2-flowered and are surrounded by uniformly coloured bristles that remain after the spikelets fall; the upper glume is 40-55% of the spikelet's length. Flowers from early summer to autumn. A native of Africa, it occurs is sown as a pasture species, especially on medium to heavy soils of high fertility; it has also become naturalised on the North West Slopes and Plains. Easy to establish on heavy clays and is tolerant of drought and temporary waterlogging. Has superior production to most other tropical grasses in its first and second year after establishment. Oxalates may affect horses and cattle. Has reasonable palatability and feed quality below about 40 cm in height, but quickly runs to head and is then avoided by stock; generally preferred by cattle rather than sheep. Graze frequently to maintain quality. Heavy grazing in late summer promotes autumn germination of winter annual legumes; however its abundance will decline under heavy continuous grazing. Sufficient soil nitrogen is essential for its persistence.

Introduced warm-season perennial large tufted C4 grass; stems usually have hairy nodes, grow 30-200 cm tall and arise from short rhizomes. Leaf bases may be hairy and blades are 10-60 cm long and 3-14 mm wide. Flowerheads are narrow cylindrical bristly spike-like panicles to 18 cm long. Spikelets are 2-flowered and are surrounded by uniformly coloured bristles that remain after the spikelets fall; the upper glume is 40-55% of the spikelet's length. Flowers from early summer to autumn. A native of Africa, it occurs is sown as a pasture species, especially on medium to heavy soils of high fertility; it has also become naturalised on the North West Slopes and Plains. Easy to establish on heavy clays and is tolerant of drought and temporary waterlogging. Has superior production to most other tropical grasses in its first and second year after establishment. Oxalates may affect horses and cattle. Has reasonable palatability and feed quality below about 40 cm in height, but quickly runs to head and is then avoided by stock; generally preferred by cattle rather than sheep. Graze frequently to maintain quality. Heavy grazing in late summer promotes autumn germination of winter annual legumes; however its abundance will decline under heavy continuous grazing. Sufficient soil nitrogen is essential for its persistence.

Introduced, warm-season, perennial, tussock-forming grass to 130 cm tall. Flowerheads are spikes to 30 cm long and which break up at maturity. Flowers in summer. A native of Europe and western Asia, it is found scattered in areas of low to moderate salinity; sometimes sown, but also increasingly naturalised. More common in southern areas. Has low to moderate waterlogging tolerance, but is not tolerant of waterlogging over spring and into summer. Used to rehabilitate saline sites, but is becoming an increasingly widespread weed especially in wetlands and along streams. Very productive when subsoil moisture is available or there is good summer rainfall. Provides high quality feed when vegetative and leafy, but is of poor quality when rank and flowering. Good grazing management is critical to maintain feed quality and palatability; it responds to hard grazing and added nitrogen.

Introduced warm-season perennial large tufted C4 grass; stems usually have hairy nodes, grow 30-200 cm tall and arise from short rhizomes. Leaf bases may be hairy and blades are 10-60 cm long and 3-14 mm wide. Flowerheads are narrow cylindrical bristly spike-like panicles to 18 cm long. Spikelets are 2-flowered and are surrounded by uniformly coloured bristles that remain after the spikelets fall; the upper glume is 40-55% of the spikelet's length. Flowers from early summer to autumn. A native of Africa, it occurs is sown as a pasture species, especially on medium to heavy soils of high fertility; it has also become naturalised on the North West Slopes and Plains. Easy to establish on heavy clays and is tolerant of drought and temporary waterlogging. Has superior production to most other tropical grasses in its first and second year after establishment. Oxalates may affect horses and cattle. Has reasonable palatability and feed quality below about 40 cm in height, but quickly runs to head and is then avoided by stock; generally preferred by cattle rather than sheep. Graze frequently to maintain quality. Heavy grazing in late summer promotes autumn germination of winter annual legumes; however its abundance will decline under heavy continuous grazing. Sufficient soil nitrogen is essential for its persistence.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Work along this stretch of the river bank involves an amount of manual, back-breaking work.

TEUCHITLAN, JALISCO, MEXICO - JUNE 08: At least 90 houses were flooded, 12 vehicles were swept away, five fences fell and eight posts up after a strong waterspout struck the town of Teuchitlan, Saturday, June 8th, 2013, in central Valles of Jalisco region, Mexico. Several units of Jalisco Civil Protection from nearby towns, the State Council for Accident Prevention, Mexican Red Cross and the Mexican Army who implemented the plan DN-III arrived at the scene of the disaster to serve the population. The storm began at 19:00 and ended at 22:00 hours, its duration and intensity caused the Escondido River, near the county seat, grew and overflowed onto the streets, behind the town's main square. The water reached levels between 1.50 and 1.80 meters high, which led to waterlogging several city blocks. Authorities and residents rescued about 75 people, was looking for a person who had been reported missing and it housed 13 more. (Photo by Hugo Ortuno)

Introduced warm-season perennial large tufted C4 grass; stems usually have hairy nodes, grow 30-200 cm tall and arise from short rhizomes. Leaf bases may be hairy and blades are 10-60 cm long and 3-14 mm wide. Flowerheads are narrow cylindrical bristly spike-like panicles to 18 cm long. Spikelets are 2-flowered and are surrounded by uniformly coloured bristles that remain after the spikelets fall; the upper glume is 40-55% of the spikelet's length. Flowers from early summer to autumn. A native of Africa, it occurs is sown as a pasture species, especially on medium to heavy soils of high fertility; it has also become naturalised on the North West Slopes and Plains. Easy to establish on heavy clays and is tolerant of drought and temporary waterlogging. Has superior production to most other tropical grasses in its first and second year after establishment. Oxalates may affect horses and cattle. Has reasonable palatability and feed quality below about 40 cm in height, but quickly runs to head and is then avoided by stock; generally preferred by cattle rather than sheep. Graze frequently to maintain quality. Heavy grazing in late summer promotes autumn germination of winter annual legumes; however its abundance will decline under heavy continuous grazing. Sufficient soil nitrogen is essential for its persistence.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the last week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

The recent surge of flood water has subsided, allowing working access to the river banks again.

Introduced cool-season annual hairless herbaceous C3 legume 20-60 cm tall. Stems are erect, thick and hollow when elongated (variety majus) or more prostrate, thinner and solid (variety resupinatum). Leaves have 3 ovate leaflets, each strongly veined, toothed and on stalks of equal length. Flowerheads extend beyond surrounding leaves and are ball-shaped clusters of many white, pink or violet pea-like flowers; maturing into white woolly fruit. Flowers in spring and early summer. A native of Europe, the Mediterranean and SW Asia, majus is sown as an annual fodder and resupinatum is used more for grazing. Best suited to clay soils with pHCa 5-8 and requires a medium-high winter rainfall or irrigation. Provides both a high potential nitrogen input into soils and high-quality cool-season feed. Has excellent waterlogging tolerance and moderate salinity tolerance. Causes bloat in cattle; sow with oats or ryegrass to reduce risk. Sometimes causes photosensitisation. Majus is soft seeded so requires annual sowing; resupinatum is harder seeded so is more self-regenerating. Can produce high forage yields with good regrowth potential after cutting/grazing, but needs irrigation or good spring rains to maximise late spring growth. Make into hay or silage in spring; up to 2 cuts are possible.

Introduced cool-season annual hairless herbaceous C3 legume with stems that are semi-erect, thick and hollow. Leaves have 3 leaflets; juvenile leaflets are club shaped while mature leaflets are arrow shaped with white or reddish arrow-shaped marks. Flowerheads are spike-like clusters of many pea-like flowers; initially rounded, becoming cylindrical and up to 10 cm long. Flowers are initially white, turning pink then brown with age. Flowers from spring to early summer. A native of Europe and western Asia, it is sown in mixtures for short-term pastures or as a component of high-density legume crops. Suited to well drained soils of moderate to high fertility. It has poor tolerance of waterlogging during establishment. An alternative to Crimson Clover and Red Clover, it is a productive, late maturing forage that produces large quantities of dry matter in spring. Considered a bloat safe legume. Good spring rainfall or irrigation is required to reach its potential yield. Extremely deep roots result in continued growth longer than most annual legumes.

Well suited to silage and hay production. Rest from grazing once flowering commences to maximise seed-set. However, high levels of hard seed often result in poor regeneration in the second year. Graze pastures heavily in late summer and early autumn as zero residues in autumn maximises its regeneration.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Work along this stretch of the river bank involves an amount of manual, back-breaking work.

Introduced, warm-season, perennial, tussock-forming grass to 130 cm tall. Flowerheads are spikes to 30 cm long and which break up at maturity. Flowers in summer. A native of Europe and western Asia, it is found scattered in areas of low to moderate salinity; sometimes sown, but also increasingly naturalised. More common in southern areas. Has low to moderate waterlogging tolerance, but is not tolerant of waterlogging over spring and into summer. Used to rehabilitate saline sites, but is becoming an increasingly widespread weed especially in wetlands and along streams. Very productive when subsoil moisture is available or there is good summer rainfall. Provides high quality feed when vegetative and leafy, but is of poor quality when rank and flowering. Good grazing management is critical to maintain feed quality and palatability; it responds to hard grazing and added nitrogen.

This photo shows the probable growing position of the bog pine sapling (already substantially shaped here) which became ‘the bird’ in this piece which uses both bog oak and bog pine. Basically the carving has been rotated a quarter turn forward from the position shown here.

Birds are often used as symbols of freedom – there is an international human rights symbol which is a stylised bird. To earthbound humans, the ability to fly has led to the imagery of being ‘as free as a bird’. This piece tries to take the imagery a bit further by having a bird escaping from some form of captivity or restraint. It is also stylised.

This piece is the exception to the rule that I don’t do carvings on commission. Asked by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties to do a piece for a human rights award, it took a process of discussion and discernment to agree doing something. With a plaque added to the front (which is why there is no design on it there) it was presented to Liam Cunningham for a Lifetime Contribution Award in March 2020 concerning his work for human rights at home and abroad. See www.iccl.ie/awards/liam-cunningham-lifetime-contribution-...

The base is Lough Neagh basin bog oak; bog oak is generally black inside (there are some flecks of brown on this piece) because the iron in the water where it lies interacts with the tannins in the wood to turn it black. This is a block of bog oak cut from a larger piece. The bird is bog pine from Co Mayo and is actually the roots, and start of the trunk, of a pine sapling which never grew big. As to why it did not grow more, there are a number of possible answers including growing on stony ground with very poor nutrition, climate change, flood or wind causing it to be uprooted. Spaghnum moss can also kill trees by causing waterlogging.

The pine is 3,500 years old or more – pine basically died out in Ireland at this time. It is a ‘natural miracle’ that this small piece of pine survived, thanks to anaerobic conditions in a bog. The oak is also likely to be 3,000 – 5,000 years old. However without carbon dating it is impossible to be more exact on the age of the wood.

The bird has been left quite stylised; the wings and body were shaped a bit and the head significantly. One wing (originally root) is longer than the other and it has been left this way as a bit of artistic licence – it preserves more of the sapling’s shape. The colour of bog pine inside is like a modern pine only more pink, and it goes a darker golden brown when oiled, as here. Neither piece of wood has been coloured beyond being oiled and painted with a clear varnish.

The base was finished at the front to have a flat surface for the plaque. However I wanted to have some ornamentation on the base so I carved a triskele on the back but sufficiently small not to detract from the overall piece; the triskele is a symbol from Celtic and many others cultures. The gash at the front from where the bird is emerging has been enlarged from what was much smaller. I chiselled and drilled a hole in the oak to hold the pine bird in place. The highest point of the carving is about 34 cm, the base itself is about 20 cm high and 19 cm at its widest.

Introduced cool-season annual hairless herbaceous C3 legume with stems that are semi-erect, thick and hollow. Leaves have 3 leaflets; juvenile leaflets are club shaped while mature leaflets are arrow shaped with white or reddish arrow-shaped marks. Flowerheads are spike-like clusters of many pea-like flowers; initially rounded, becoming cylindrical and up to 10 cm long. Flowers are initially white, turning pink then brown with age. Flowers from spring to early summer. A native of Europe and western Asia, it is sown in mixtures for short-term pastures or as a component of high-density legume crops. Suited to well drained soils of moderate to high fertility. It has poor tolerance of waterlogging during establishment. An alternative to Crimson Clover and Red Clover, it is a productive, late maturing forage that produces large quantities of dry matter in spring. Considered a bloat safe legume. Good spring rainfall or irrigation is required to reach its potential yield. Extremely deep roots result in continued growth longer than most annual legumes.

Well suited to silage and hay production. Rest from grazing once flowering commences to maximise seed-set. However, high levels of hard seed often result in poor regeneration in the second year. Graze pastures heavily in late summer and early autumn as zero residues in autumn maximises its regeneration.

Introduced warm-season perennial tufted C4 grass with spreading crowns; stems are fine, hairless and to 1.5 m tall. Leaves are grey-green, 6-20 mm wide and nearly hairless. Flowerheads are subdigitate with 4-14 racemes usually in 3 whorls, about 7-17 cm long and brownish-purple when immature and brownish grey when mature. Spikelets are paired, 2-flowered, shortly-hairy and 2-4 mm long. Flowers in summer. A native of Africa, it is a sown species in the north with one variety Premier. Grows on a range of soil types, but is best suited to light-medium textured low-fertility soils. Good drought and frost tolerance, but is sensitive to waterlogging. Recruits well on light-medium textured soils. Can produce some growth in winter and commences growth in late winter-early spring, much earlier than most other tropical grasses. Very palatable, has low oxalate levels (i.e. suitable for horses) and tolerates close grazing.

TEUCHITLAN, JALISCO, MEXICO - JUNE 08: At least 90 houses were flooded, 12 vehicles were swept away, five fences fell and eight posts up after a strong waterspout struck the town of Teuchitlan, Saturday, June 8th, 2013, in central Valles of Jalisco region, Mexico. Several units of Jalisco Civil Protection from nearby towns, the State Council for Accident Prevention, Mexican Red Cross and the Mexican Army who implemented the plan DN-III arrived at the scene of the disaster to serve the population. The storm began at 19:00 and ended at 22:00 hours, its duration and intensity caused the Escondido River, near the county seat, grew and overflowed onto the streets, behind the town's main square. The water reached levels between 1.50 and 1.80 meters high, which led to waterlogging several city blocks. Authorities and residents rescued about 75 people, was looking for a person who had been reported missing and it housed 13 more. (Photo by Hugo Ortuno)

The tea plant can grow between 900 and 2000 m above sea level. Because the plant can`t stand waterlogging the plantation has to be situated on a slope between 30 and 45 degrees. If you don´t cut the tea plant it would grow up to a tree of six meter height.

Munnar is a beautiful hill station, and was the summer resort of the British. Tourists come here to see the vast tea plantations of the area. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops, guest houses and is really beautiful and traditional. It is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular place for Indian honeymooners.

The town is divided into two parts, Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.

Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here.

There are more than 30 tea estates in and around Munnar. Among them, most of the plantations are taken over by the Tata's Group Kannan Devan Tea Estate. Some of the major tea estates in Munnar include Harrison Malayalam, AVT Tea, Michael's tea, Brooke Bond and Tata Tea. It is one of the biggest centers of tea trade in India.

Until 1790, Munnar and the surrounding area were forests covered, when they were first recognized by the European known as Duke of Wellington. Later in the year 1870, a subordinate of the ruler of Travancore, leased 588 sq. km of land to a Scottish tea planter named J.D. Munro, who was the lawyer in the employee of the Travancore Government. The first tea sapling was planted by A.H. Sharp at Parvathi, which is currently the part of Sevenmullay estate. Presently the whole area is covered by the mile and miles of lush tea gardens, owned by the various private companies.

For the tourists information, Munnar itself is the most popular and picturesque hill stations of Kerala, located 1600 to 1800meters above the sea level. It is popularly known as the 'Kashmir of South India'. The peaceful environment and perfect serenity makes it a famous hot spot among the tourists from all around the globe. Along with the valleys, mountain streams and tea plantations there is lot more to discover in its surrounding area.

Tourists can make a visit to the famous tea museum opened by the Tata Tea group. The museum puts light on the important fact and figures about the growth of the tea plantations in Munnar. It contains curios, old photographs, machineries and other things which have been used since long time. It provides the first hand experience to the tourists about the tea processing and the operations that go into the making of black tea. Some of the major items that are displayed at the museum are the original tea roller, used in earlier time around 1905, than the 'Pelton Wheel', which was used in the power generation plant in the 1920's, a rail engine wheel of the Kumdale Valley Light Railway.

Native, warm season, annual, erect, shrubby legume, which grows 1-3m tall. Leaves are pinnate and 5-20cm long, with 12-30 pairs of 7-18mm long leaflets. Flowerheads are 1-6 flowered racemes in the leaf axils. Flowers are about 1cm long and yellow with purple streaks on the back. Flowering is from late spring to autumn. Pods are long, narrow and cylindrical (12-20cm long x 2-3mm wide). Seeds are long-lived and germinate in successive flushes from spring to autumn. Widespread in periodically flooded sites; most common on heavy clays of floodplains, swamps and watercourses. It is a major weed of cotton due to its prolific production of long-lived seed and abilities to withstand disturbance and waterlogging; also a weed of sorghum crops. Can form dense thickets, which may provide harbour for native and feral animals. Productive. Leaves provide a high quality feed, but the palatability and quality of the whole plant quickly declines as it rapidly becomes stemmy and hard. Very frost sensitive. Anti-nutritional factors may limit animal production (especially horses). However, some feeding trials have shown no adverse effect. Seeds are poisonous to pigs.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

The tea plant can grow between 900 and 2000 m above sea level. Because the plant can`t stand waterlogging the plantation has to be situated on a slope between 30 and 45 degrees. If you don´t cut the tea plant it would grow up to a tree of six meter height.

Munnar is a beautiful hill station, and was the summer resort of the British. Tourists come here to see the vast tea plantations of the area. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops, guest houses and is really beautiful and traditional. It is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular place for Indian honeymooners.

The town is divided into two parts, Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.

Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here.

There are more than 30 tea estates in and around Munnar. Among them, most of the plantations are taken over by the Tata's Group Kannan Devan Tea Estate. Some of the major tea estates in Munnar include Harrison Malayalam, AVT Tea, Michael's tea, Brooke Bond and Tata Tea. It is one of the biggest centers of tea trade in India.

Until 1790, Munnar and the surrounding area were forests covered, when they were first recognized by the European known as Duke of Wellington. Later in the year 1870, a subordinate of the ruler of Travancore, leased 588 sq. km of land to a Scottish tea planter named J.D. Munro, who was the lawyer in the employee of the Travancore Government. The first tea sapling was planted by A.H. Sharp at Parvathi, which is currently the part of Sevenmullay estate. Presently the whole area is covered by the mile and miles of lush tea gardens, owned by the various private companies.

For the tourists information, Munnar itself is the most popular and picturesque hill stations of Kerala, located 1600 to 1800meters above the sea level. It is popularly known as the 'Kashmir of South India'. The peaceful environment and perfect serenity makes it a famous hot spot among the tourists from all around the globe. Along with the valleys, mountain streams and tea plantations there is lot more to discover in its surrounding area.

Tourists can make a visit to the famous tea museum opened by the Tata Tea group. The museum puts light on the important fact and figures about the growth of the tea plantations in Munnar. It contains curios, old photographs, machineries and other things which have been used since long time. It provides the first hand experience to the tourists about the tea processing and the operations that go into the making of black tea. Some of the major items that are displayed at the museum are the original tea roller, used in earlier time around 1905, than the 'Pelton Wheel', which was used in the power generation plant in the 1920's, a rail engine wheel of the Kumdale Valley Light Railway.

WIKIPEDIA

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Introduced warm-season perennial large tufted C4 grass; stems usually have hairy nodes, grow 30-200 cm tall and arise from short rhizomes. Leaf bases may be hairy and blades are 10-60 cm long and 3-14 mm wide. Flowerheads are narrow cylindrical bristly spike-like panicles to 18 cm long. Spikelets are 2-flowered and are surrounded by uniformly coloured bristles that remain after the spikelets fall; the upper glume is 40-55% of the spikelet's length. Flowers from early summer to autumn. A native of Africa, it occurs is sown as a pasture species, especially on medium to heavy soils of high fertility; it has also become naturalised on the North West Slopes and Plains. Easy to establish on heavy clays and is tolerant of drought and temporary waterlogging. Has superior production to most other tropical grasses in its first and second year after establishment. Oxalates may affect horses and cattle. Has reasonable palatability and feed quality below about 40 cm in height, but quickly runs to head and is then avoided by stock; generally preferred by cattle rather than sheep. Graze frequently to maintain quality. Heavy grazing in late summer promotes autumn germination of winter annual legumes; however its abundance will decline under heavy continuous grazing. Sufficient soil nitrogen is essential for its persistence.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the last week of September 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

In preparation for the river-bank strengthening/protection along this stretch of the river, a 2nd channel was created -- with the intention of diverting the river.

Having endured a similar flooding only days earlier, another heavy fall of rain caused the channels to fill up again.

It meant starting all over again - draining this road/bank side channel, cutting a release channel near the bridge to release the volume, and activating pumps to assist with the repeated drainage.

Matters were never helped by the overflow pipe which siphoned run-off from the adjacent motorway!

Always quite amazing to see how water levels could drain away within a few days.

The question would always be -- how much work could be completed before the (inevitable) next run of water?

The following sequences show how the guys reinforced the river bed/bank: spreading out, and stitching in a membrane, layout out wire creels, filled with medium sized stones, welded shut, and laid out in grids, particularly the sections alongside the road/bank side.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces.

They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank.

They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them.

Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

This rather dramatic scene is another human interest story taken from the cable car leading up to (in this case down from) the view point of the Longji Rice Terraces near Guilin, China. I was third wheeling with a Chinese-Italian couple in a pod of the cable car, and while I was trying to make jokes and light conversation to keep the mood alive (I was 3rd wheeling, remember?), I did find the foggy plexi glass of the cable car pod a big impediment to clear photography. Leaving my embarrassment aside, I stood up to discover a tiny gap between the window top and the sun shade of the pod. I was able to stick my lens through that hole to take this picture. So while we are happily enjoying the view of the terraced rice fields from the cable car, there are other hard working souls down there putting in much sweat and toil. A real human interest shot, this, which s why I took it. He seems to be preparing the planting surface before waterlogging it for paddy plantation. I have put in detailed notes about the rice terraces in my previous captions earlier on in this album so I will save you the commentary and let you enjoy the view. (Longji Rice Terraces, near Guilin, China, May 2017)

Introduced warm-season perennial tufted C4 grass with spreading crowns; stems are fine, hairless and to 1.5 m tall. Leaves are grey-green, 6-20 mm wide and nearly hairless. Flowerheads are subdigitate with 4-14 racemes usually in 3 whorls, about 7-17 cm long and brownish-purple when immature and brownish grey when mature. Spikelets are paired, 2-flowered, shortly-hairy and 2-4 mm long. Flowers in summer. A native of Africa, it is a sown species in the north with one variety Premier. Grows on a range of soil types, but is best suited to light-medium textured low-fertility soils. Good drought and frost tolerance, but is sensitive to waterlogging. Recruits well on light-medium textured soils. Can produce some growth in winter and commences growth in late winter-early spring, much earlier than most other tropical grasses. Very palatable, has low oxalate levels (i.e. suitable for horses) and tolerates close grazing.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of September 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

River bed area further upstream of the La Vallee Apartment complex, adjacent to the permanent bridge allowing access to the Traveller site. This location is close to the point at which the river changes direction, running beneath the N11 dual-carriageway, and wending it's way back towards Powerscourt and Enniskerry village.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

The tea plant can grow between 900 and 2000 m above sea level. Because the plant can`t stand waterlogging the plantation has to be situated on a slope between 30 and 45 degrees. If you don´t cut the tea plant it would grow up to a tree of six meter height.

Munnar is a beautiful hill station, and was the summer resort of the British. Tourists come here to see the vast tea plantations of the area. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops, guest houses and is really beautiful and traditional. It is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular place for Indian honeymooners.

The town is divided into two parts, Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.

Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here.

There are more than 30 tea estates in and around Munnar. Among them, most of the plantations are taken over by the Tata's Group Kannan Devan Tea Estate. Some of the major tea estates in Munnar include Harrison Malayalam, AVT Tea, Michael's tea, Brooke Bond and Tata Tea. It is one of the biggest centers of tea trade in India.

Until 1790, Munnar and the surrounding area were forests covered, when they were first recognized by the European known as Duke of Wellington. Later in the year 1870, a subordinate of the ruler of Travancore, leased 588 sq. km of land to a Scottish tea planter named J.D. Munro, who was the lawyer in the employee of the Travancore Government. The first tea sapling was planted by A.H. Sharp at Parvathi, which is currently the part of Sevenmullay estate. Presently the whole area is covered by the mile and miles of lush tea gardens, owned by the various private companies.

For the tourists information, Munnar itself is the most popular and picturesque hill stations of Kerala, located 1600 to 1800meters above the sea level. It is popularly known as the 'Kashmir of South India'. The peaceful environment and perfect serenity makes it a famous hot spot among the tourists from all around the globe. Along with the valleys, mountain streams and tea plantations there is lot more to discover in its surrounding area.

Tourists can make a visit to the famous tea museum opened by the Tata Tea group. The museum puts light on the important fact and figures about the growth of the tea plantations in Munnar. It contains curios, old photographs, machineries and other things which have been used since long time. It provides the first hand experience to the tourists about the tea processing and the operations that go into the making of black tea. Some of the major items that are displayed at the museum are the original tea roller, used in earlier time around 1905, than the 'Pelton Wheel', which was used in the power generation plant in the 1920's, a rail engine wheel of the Kumdale Valley Light Railway.

WIKIPEDIA

Introduced warm-season perennial tufted to shortly rhizomatous C4 grass; stems are branching, ascending to erect and to 100 cm tall. Leaves are 2-13 mm wide, 3-30 cm long and green to blue-green. Flowerheads are cylindrical spike-like contracted panicles up to 15 cm long and usually purplish when young. Spikelets are surrounded by bristles that form a soft burr and which fall with the spikelets at maturity. Burrs are 12 mm long, with one bristle longer than the others and bristles are antrorsely barbed; inner bristles are hairy in the lower part and fused only at the base forming a short disc. Flowers from late spring to autumn. A native of the northern hemisphere, it is sometimes sown as a pasture and is commonly a weed of sandy areas; also occurs on sandy loams to clay loams. Most common on the Plains and western edges of the Slopes. Seeds are difficult to sow and but it is very persistent summer-growing species which is not suited to short-term pastures as it is difficult to remove. Prefers well-drained soils and does not tolerate prolonged flooding or waterlogging. Very drought tolerant and responds quickly to rain, but requires fertile soils for production and is frost sensitive. Moderately palatable, but causes big head in horses. May out compete native pastures and is a weed of roadsides.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the second week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

A Retic Planosol in Roeselare (province of West-Vlaanderen). This profile provided by S. Dondeyne

www.researchgate.net/profile/S-Dondeyne

For more information about this soil, visit:

www.researchgate.net/publication/267969329_The_soil_map_o...

A Planosol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources is a soil with a coarse-textured, surface horizon that shows signs of periodic water stagnation and abruptly overlies a dense, slowly permeable subsoil with significantly more clay than the surface horizon. In the US Soil Classification of 1938 used the name Planosols, whereas its successor, the USDA soil taxonomy, includes most Planosols in the Great Groups Albaqualfs, Albaquults and Argialbolls.

For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:

www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf

Planosols in their natural state support a sparse grass vegetation, often with scattered shrubs and trees that have shallow root systems that can cope with temporary waterlogging. Agricultural land use on is normally less intensive than that on most other soils under the same climate conditions. Vast areas of Planosols are used for extensive grazing. Wood production on Planosols is much lower than on other soils under the same conditions.

In the temperate zone these soils are mainly in grass or planted to crops such as wheat and sugar beet. Yields are modest even on drained and deeply loosened soils. Root development on natural unmodified Planosols is hindered severely by oxygen deficiency in wet periods, dense subsoil and, in places, by toxic levels of Al in the rootzone. Planosols in Southeast Asia are widely planted with paddy rice. Other crops met with little success. Fertilizers are needed for good yields. In climates with long dry periods and short infrequent wet spells the best land use are grasslands. Strongly developed Planosols with a very silty or sandy surface soil are best left untouched.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Work along this stretch of the river bank involves an amount of manual, back-breaking work.

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.

These images were taken during the third week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.

Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.

Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.

Work along this stretch of the river bank involves an amount of manual, back-breaking work.

Introduced, warm-season, perennial, erect C4 grass to 1.2 m tall; plant tufts are joined by thick stolons and stem bases are flattened. Leaf sheath-blade junctions are usually hairy. Flowerheads are digitate or subdigitate, with 6-18 thick branches (5-10 cm long) often in 2 whorls. Spikelets are 3-4-flowered, blunt-tipped, greenish brown and 2-awned. Flowering is from spring to autumn. A native of Africa, it is widely sown as a pasture species and roadside stabilizer. Requires reasonably well-drained soils. Suited to drier and less fertile conditions than setaria or kikuyu, but persists best under fertile conditions. Doesn’t tolerate very acid soils or high exchangeable aluminium. Suited as pioneer species as it easily establishes from seed, spreads by stolons and is a good binder of soils. Very drought tolerant, moderately frost tolerant, but has poor waterlogging tolerance. Capable of high yields and has low oxalate levels. Range of varieties that range from pioneering types that are good for soil conservation but are low quality, to higher quality varieties for grazing. Persists best under fertile conditions and responds strongly to nitrogen in the presence of adequate phosphorus. To maintain good feed value, keep growth relatively short and maintain a legume component.