….try to grow new plants from different parts of the parent plant, for example, seeds, stem and root cuttings…. (KS2, Year 5)
Know that willow trees can reproduce when their cut braches make roots
adventures in time and in space life depends on life
The United Nations sustainable development goals should inform quality education in schools. Goal 12 refers to responsible consumption and production. Woodlands have been managed sustainably for hundreds of years. Pollarding, removing useful timber whilst allowing the tree to continue to grow, is at the heart of these woodland management practices. Trendlewood Park is reusing some of the cut timber to create new hedges. This is because willow wood is able to grow new roots from the lower ends of their stems. 1. Branches of the brittle willow break easily, and it an advantage to the tree if these branches can also develop into independent trees. These trees are identical to the parent plant, and are useful in helping to colonise an area in which it grows well. This is the same as growing new plants from stem and leaf cuttings. 2. In the spring, willow trees make seeds that germinate into new plants. These are not identical to each other. They show differences in their characteristics that we call variation. These differences are important in allowing willows to colonise areas that have different environments.Both types of reproduction are important and help the willow to grow in a wide variety of habitats, especially in damp or wet habitats.
