b'In order to learn about the carbon and TREES!water cycle and the impact of climate and environmental change on woodlands, specifically the effect of elevated carbon dioxide on the woodland, we visited the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research.After a brief tourand a hot chocolate!we went to observe two rings where the elevated carbon dioxide is transported and in effect given to the forest. These rings consist of several towers in a ring shape marking an area of forest. Within these rings, carbon dioxide is pumped into the forest to elevated levels (400ppm). As more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere every day, woodlands will start to behave differently. By using these rings, the institute is creating this 400 ppm carbon environment now so we can discover the impacts. Professor Pritchard explained how the experiment is controlled, what measurements are taken and the links between the water and carbon cycle.Its in theAfter lunch, we headed over to a small forested area outside the facility to complete some fieldwork. After a recent trip to Cranedale in Yorkshire, we were all well prepared for this! We looked at how you are able to identify different species of trees, measure the height and circumference of the trunk and how much carbon each tree can store. We were also informed that we could get a kit and install our own dendrometers for the trees at Handsworth! Miss Morgan jumped at this opportunity and we are still awaiting the BIFoR package.The research that is conducted by the University of Birmingham is vital as it is using future projections of carbon dioxide levels in 2050, thus allowing us to see how trees and the woodland respond to this elevated carbon dioxide. This is crucial to us as it allows us to develop a sense of how the forest can respond to more carbon in the atmosphere, which is quickly becoming true due to global warming. Trees are now taking in more carbon dioxide (30%) but we are still unsure what this meansmore growth in the leaves, trunk or roots? Only time will tell.Rebecca Ho21'