http://www.livingrainforest.org/news Latest news from The Living Rainforest, Berkshire, UK http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=97 Eighty-eight new orchids were recently donated to the Living Rainforest by orchid enthusiast Arthur Wyatt of nearby Upper Bucklebury. The donated orchids include stunning rare species from around the world. Twenty-two species are currently in flower and on show to the public in the Living Rainforest glasshouses. One of our horticulturalists' favourites is the Miltonia spectabilis, which smells like sweets - especially when watered. It comes from the highly endangered Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest or 'Mata Atlantica', just north of Rio de Janeiro. It is deep purple and lilac in colour and visitors can find it near our cocoa tree. The Coelogyne (pronounced 'see-lodge-nee') massangeana grows on trees in Thailand and Indonesia. Its pendulous and rare yellow and brown blooms only flower in the summer and appear to be strung together like Hawaiian lei. The leaves are very delicate and can be easily burnt in direct sunlight. Visitors can find our Coelogyne massangeana directly in front of them as they enter Amazonica House. The Brassia rex is one of 35 known species of 'spider orchid'. Native to tropical America, it grows on trees and has a reputation for being difficult to look after. Our Brassia rex can be found in Lowland, near the Vanilla Orchid Vine. Visitors keen on seeing the stunning blue Vanda Orchid, from the Himalayas, Australia and New Guinea, can see a beautiful specimen in Lowland. The Living Rainforest is deeply indebted to Mr Wyatt for his generous donation and hopes to share Mr Wyatt's love of orchids with over 75,000 visitors each year. 2009-09-15 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=96 Now is probably the best time of year to catch The Living Rainforest's famous Giant Amazon Lily on our main pond. The tropical Lily needs high water temperatures and light levels to grow large leaves, and by around November each year it dies off. We replant from new seed in the Spring and then, depending on light and heat levels, the large leaves tend to appear by mid to late Summer. This year, because of the generally overcast weather, the Lily took longer than usual to develop to full size. Later this week, our Facebook fan page will feature a new photo album on the Giant Amazon Lily, along with additions to our album of pics showing many stunning additions to our Orchid collection. 2009-09-14 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=98 This month, The Living Rainforest planted a new aerial garden of bromeliads near the main pond. (Many bromeliads are epiphyitic, or grow on trees and other plants.) This family of flowers contains over 3000 species, the most common being the pineapple (Ananas comomus). The greatest number of species can be found in Brazil though they range from Argentina in S. America all the way up to Virginia in the USA, and one species has been found in W. Africa. Bromeliad leaves are arranged spirally and sometimes overlap tightly to form a pool of water, causing them to be called 'urn plants'. Plant debris, insects and even small animals get trapped in the pool and their nutrients are absorbed by the plant. Bromeliad leaves have tiny scales, called trichomes, but these are barely noticeable on species growing in humid tropical areas. Unusually, some bromeliads open their flowers at night to attract bats for pollination and close them during the day. 2009-08-20 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=95 The Living Rainforest in Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire is bursting at the seams with activities for children and families to enjoy this summer. 2009-07-22 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=94 The Living Rainforest's South American Ringed Teal have had a clutch of chicks. The chicks can normally be spotted in Amazonica House, by the main pond and nearby beds. Visitors are being asked not to venture too close. The mother and father appear to be excellent parents, and part of their duty includes 24/7 security to ensure the safety of their young. The Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys) breeds in Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay, and also north-west Argentina and Paraguay. Their habitats include tropical, swampy forests and marshy clearings in well-wooded lowlands, as well as secluded pools and small streams. To see a photo of the Ringed Teal taken just yesterday, visit the Living Rainforest on Facebook. Either click on the 'Facebook' links from the Living Rainforest home page (www.livingrainforest.org) or visit www.facebook.com/livingrainforest . 2009-07-10 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=93 Living Rainforest director Karl Hansen recently interviewed Tony Juniper (formerly of Friends of the Earth and now with the Prince's Rainforests Project) about what it will take to stop the destruction of the world's rainforests. The interview was recorded in seven questions. Each question can now be viewed on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/livingrainforest Alternatively, you can find links to the seven questions on the Prince's Rainforest Project website, www.rainforestsos.org/video (under 'Other Rainforest Videos'). 2009-06-18 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=92 Next Tuesday 12th May at the Living Rainforest, Dr Michael Keith-Lucas will deliver a special lecture on 'Animal & Plant Defence in the Rainforest', followed by a search for examples in the Living Rainforest's own glasshouses. Starts 6pm. Tickets: £10. For more information, please visit the Institute of Biology website, www.iob.org. To book, please contact Andy Martin at the Institute of Biology, andy.b.martin@btinternet.com. 2009-05-05 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=91 The recent sunshine has seen a flush of new plant growth at the Living Rainforest. There are new flowers on many of the Ginger plants and new buds on the Coffee trees. Just past the Crocodile Pit, there are some fantastic flower spikes on the bromeliads and large pink blossoms on the Philippine Medinilla. The Lobster Claw Plants and Cachibou, which produces wax used in cosmetics, are just starting to blossom. Bananas seem to be growing everywhere and the butterfly beds are awash with colour. The birds and reptiles are active, and we are happy to announce the arrival of a male Bronze-winged Pigeon to accompany our female. In Lowland house, there is a new Forest Floor exhibit featuring Giant Millipedes, Hissing Cockroaches, Fruit Beetles and Giant Land Snails. (Please note that our frogs will be off-show until later this year, when the revamp of their enclosure is completed.) 2009-05-01 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=90 We're teaming up with West Berkshire Council to offer three new courses for adults this summer: Darwin & the Rainforest (Saturday 6th June 2009, 10.30am - 4pm). Explore the ideas behind a theory which shook the world, venture into our rainforest glasshouses and observe the scientific principles firsthand, and consider the implications for the future. The Rainforest - what does 'sustainability' mean and why should we bother? (Saturday 21st June 2009, 10.30am - 4pm). Explore global issues of sustainability and consider local challenges of sustainable living. Examine ways to become part of this important and topical global debate. Food from the Rainforest - from them to us (Sunday 22nd June 2009, 10.30am - 4pm). Travel from source to shelf, exploring the origins of rainforest produce. Taste it before delving into the ethical and practical issues of rainforest food production, gaining insights into commodities so often taken for granted. No prior knowledge is needed and enrolment forms are available at The Living Rainforest or West Berkshire Council. For further information, please ring the Helpline on 0800 917 5779 (10am-4pm weekdays) or email aclteam@westberks.gov.uk. 2009-04-29 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=88 Spring is definitely in the air at The Living Rainforest. Animals at the Berkshire eco-centre – including free-ranging reptiles, birds and butterflies – are busily laying eggs in anticipation of warmer weather. Visitors and staff have observed a Chinese or Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) digging a hole near the main pond. Chinese Water Dragons spend most of their time in trees above the banks of small freshwater lakes or streams. If threatened, they drop down into the water and swim away or remain submerged for up to 25 minutes. Males can grow up to 3 feet in length (2 feet for females) and eat a main diet of insects, supplemented with occasional small mammals, fish or other reptiles. But water dragons are not the only animals getting into the spring-time spirit. Animal keepers have noticed a distinct change in behaviour in the bird population. They anticipate that more ‘Easter eggs’ may soon be laid by the Ringed Teal (South America), Roul-roul Partridges (South-east Asia) and Mouse-birds (Southern and Eastern Africa). The Roul-roul Partridges (Rollulus roulroul) are building nests. The distinctively-crested Roul-rouls live on the forest floor in large groups of up to 40 birds, and spend the day foraging for fruits, seeds and insects. Five to six eggs are laid at a time and incubation lasts about 18-19 days. Chicks stay with their mother during the first week and with their parents for a further three months. The butterflies are also doing their bit, laying caterpillar eggs on leaves and bark around the rainforest. And more tortoises and turtles are being caught ‘on walk-about’ outside their enclosures, which suggests that their spring urges are being expressed through their feet! The mood may just be a little crazy but it’s also fun and educational. The staff at Living Rainforest want to share the special spirit of spring with lots of visitors this Easter. 2009-04-03