The Environmental Statement on the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands, published by the Department for Transport this morning is "superficial and incomplete" says the Woodland Trust. Sue Holden, Woodland Trust Chief Executive, said: "This is the first time since this controversial project was proposed that the environmental impact of the first phase of HS2 has been scrutinised but the document is incomplete, with crucial ecology surveys and assessments outstanding.

A species of tree that was believed extinct and known only in the fossil record, the Wollemi Pine, has been planted in the arboretum at Woodland Trust’s Cefn Ila wood, by Lady Diana Hayman Joyce, to commemorate her recent term as the High Sheriff of Gwent and Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The earliest traces of the Wollemi Pine, or Wollemia nobilis, have been found in fossils from the dawn of the Jurassic period around 200 million years ago. But in 1994 a living specimen was discovered by a field officer of the Wollemi National Park, 150km to the north-west of Sydney, Australia.

Designed to meet the rigours of a wide variety of commercial grass cutting applications, Etesia’s Pro 46 pedestrian rotary mower is specified by contractors who want to profit from grass cutting. Reliability of mowing equipment is essential for this work which is why one Sussex landscape contractor chooses Etesia for all grass cutting operations. Green Grass Services, set up by John Vincent five years ago, specialises in grass cutting and landscape maintenance in the south east of England. In over 30 years of working within the industry John says that there isn’t a pedestrian mower he hasn’t used. The company ensures that there is always an Etesia mower in their fleet of maintenance equipment and has done for over twenty years.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is 100 years old in 2013, and members of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) will be taking part in the historic celebrations by showcasing the best examples of horticultural excellence, design and landscaping at the landmark event which takes place from May 21 – 25 2013.

A County Antrim river has a new natural ally. Over 2,000 native saplings now dot the banks of the Glendun River in the scenic Glens of Antrim, not far from Cushendall. The trees have been strategically planted in order to deliver a multitude of benefits, with improved water quality high on the list.

Forms of Growth is a collection of sculptures that point towards the Kitchen Garden in Chatsworth Garden. The largest of the four is a huge archway, about four metres tall, that serves as an archway into the Kitchen Garden. All four forms are made from ‘Flanders Red’ willow and also utilize oak from the estate (cut during woodland management) and bamboo from the garden. Each of the forms suggests organic growth, perhaps an abstract ‘seed to seedling’ appearance, but each carrying a sense that the form hasn’t finished growing. The folds, or slits in the forms were a reference to the stone statues that originally graced the entrance to the Kitchen Garden – each statue, or figure, had moss-covered garment swathes, that inspired the work.

Following a cold and wet autumn, which has held off the arrivial of Sping, we thought that we would cheer you up by showing in picture form, Shrubs ,Trees and Flowers that will with the onset of some warmer weather will burst into life. Use this as a form of Eye Spy and see how many you can spot and tick off.

Lancelot Brown was born in Northumberland and served an apprenticeship with Sir William Lorraine. A move to Buckinghamshire in 1739 led to employment by Lord Cobham at Stowe in 1741, where his job as head gardener was to last 10 years.

It was the coldest winter in a century, with record low temperatures and snow across the country. But the freezing temperatures appeared to have done little harm to the first signs of spring. It has been a "stop-start" spring so far, with wildlife reacting to warmer temperatures last week after the cold snowy spell in late January, the Woodland Trust said.

In January, your garden could need protecting from frosts, gale-force winds and heavy rain. Check stakes, ties, fleeces and other supports for damage and consider moving plants to sunnier positions to maximize light. Don't forget to keep feeding the birds, food is scarce for them over winter.