What is Hello Woods?
What is Hello Woods?
Biodiversity
Tower of Life
Biodiversity and Tower of Life
Hello Woods is an environment where many living creatures can thrive by performing various forest maintenance.
"Biodiversity" cannot be maintained without the direct or indirect support and connection of living creatures with different personalities and an unbalanced balance.
You can also observe the connection between these living creatures at the "Tower of Life".
"Tower of Life" is built with logs that are produced when cutting down trees, and inside it, a lot of fallen leaves are put in.
These logs are actually used by many living creatures in various ways.
For example, when the logs start to decompose due to mushrooms, wood-boring beetles lay eggs and their larvae grow up by eating the wood inside.
The woodpecker family targets such larvae. The larvae living in the decaying wood, which is easy to make holes in, are a feast for them.
On the other hand, the fallen leaves inside the tower also transform into humus, which becomes food for other living creatures, thanks to fungi. Speaking of living creatures that grow in this soft humus...
Yes, it's the larva of the rhinoceros beetle. The larva of the rhinoceros beetle is targeted by various living creatures. Birds such as crows that quickly aim for them when they come to the surface, ants and moles in the ground, and raccoons and wild boars that dig them up...
Just thinking about these two types of larvae, we can see the many connections between living creatures and the cycle of life.
The "Tower of Life" where many living creatures gather will decay in about 4 years due to the involvement of various living creatures, from fungi to mammals, and eventually return to the soil. And then, it will be repeated over and over again, building a new tower... creating an environment that serves as a hiding place for living creatures.
In the forest, there are countless connections that exist from the ground to the top, making it possible for the forest to thrive. It is the continuous cycle of these connections that allows the forest to exist.
Living Things
that inhabit Hello Woods
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In early spring when the leaves of the upper trees have not yet opened, the katakuri begins to bloom in various places in the forest. And as the warmth increases, the overwintered kitateha butterflies begin to fly, and other insects start moving as if they were waiting.
Also, one of the highlights of this season is the lively water with many tadpoles. After that, the cherry blossoms of the Satoyama, including the yamazakura, will begin to bloom one after another. -
Thanks to the leaves of the trees that block the strong sunlight, the temperature in the forest feels quite different.
Insects that gather on tree sap vary depending on the time of day, with stag beetles being seen at night and rhinoceros beetles during the day. And it's not just beetles that love tree sap. Butterflies such as the Great Purple Emperor also come to visit.
Additionally, you can encounter large dragonflies such as the Red Dragonfly in the forest or near water. -
Akikane comes down from the mountains to the cool terraced rice fields and water's edge.
And not only the color of the leaves of the trees, but also the grasses, flowers, and fruits of the trees color the forest. Speaking of fruits, there are acorns. Acorns from konara and kugui trees begin to fall.
Autumn is the season when red-backed mice and chipmunks run around collecting acorns, and you may be able to find traces of what they have eaten. -
In no time, it is easy to observe the birds in the forest when the leaves fall and the sky becomes visible.
You can easily find woodpeckers such as the lesser spotted woodpecker and the Japanese pygmy woodpecker by listening for the sound of pecking on trees. In winter, it is also easy to spot the "mixed flocks of small birds such as the great tit and the long-tailed tit" with their lively chirping. The fluorescent yellow bags hanging from the branches are the cocoons of the Japanese oak silk moth, a unique winter landscape.
Take a leisurely walk while enjoying the crisp sound of the fresh fallen leaves.
Hellowoods Walk
There are various ways to enjoy Hello Woods throughout the seasons.
Walking through the forest, observing living creatures,
experiencing nature, and reporting on the experiences of those who have enjoyed the charm of the forest.
