Community Forest Species Trial (Rockbeare 1998)
Summary
A series of species trials were set up to investigate the establishment and early growth (up to 14 years old) of 44 native and non-native tree species on a variety of different site types in lowland Britain. On good quality lowland afforestation sites, Platanus x hispanica (London plane) established and grew more successfully than the native trees tested, and may be an example of a species that could theoretically be established in anticipation of future climate change. Experiments on a variety of community woodland sites indicated that a range of exotic species, such as X Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress), may have the potential for establishing a woodland cover on poorly restored land where few other trees would grow. However, on less challenging, better restored sites, a wide range of native species also grew successfully. Further long-term and larger scale trials on a wider variety of sites are required to confirm the potential of the species tested for British conditions. The results from these experiments also showed that relative growth rates of different species can vary through time, highlighting the danger in making premature judgements about species suitability based solely on very early tree growth. See also: Willoughby, I., Stokes, V., Poole, J., White, J.E.J. and Hodge, S.J. (2007) The potential of 44 native and non-native species for woodland creation on a range of contrasting sites in lowland Britain. Forestry, 80 (5): 531-553.
Categories
Use limitation statement
There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.
Licence
Contains Forestry Commission information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Attribution statement
If you use this data you must cite Willoughby, I., Stokes, V., Poole, J., White, J.E.J. and Hodge, S.J. (2007) The potential of 44 native and non-native species for woodland creation on a range of contrasting sites in lowland Britain. Forestry, 80 (5): 531-553.
Use constraints
Forest Research must be acknowledged as the source of the data in any subsequent papers/products
Technical information
Update frequency
notPlanned
Lineage
Non-native species were selected for their potential to establish a woodland cover and produce timber on difficult and degraded sites. The native species Q. robur was included for comparison. One- to two-year-old bare root plants were used, except for P. nigra which was cell grown. Stock was sourced from reputable supplies or grown from seed at Headley Research Nursery, UK (51° 08 ′ N, 1° 51 ′ W). Trees were planted at 1.8 × 1.8 m spacing, and each 14.4 × 14.4 m plot contained 64 trees, with assessments carried out on all trees. There were three replicates of each of the 17 species, laid out as three randomized blocks, giving 51 plots in total. Acer campestre L. (field maple) was planted around any plot edges not abutting other treatments. Acer campestre was also used to replace any dead trees in all the species plots, to maintain conditions of even competition. Herbicides were used to keep a 1-m^2 area weed-free around each tree from April to August for each of the 5 years the experiment was maintained. Height (to the nearest 0.1 cm), stem diameter (to the nearest 0.1 mm) at 5 cm above ground level and survival were assessed after planting and at the end of each growing season. Planting date: February 1994 Elevation (metre above sea level): 159 DAMS: 13 WHC: 4 Continentality: 8 Annual average rainfall (mm): 950 Annual average growing degree days (>5°C): 1747 Annual average soil moisture deficit (mm): 143 Topography: Gentle slope, artificially raised above surrounding land Underlying geological formation:Mesozoic and Palaeozoic siltstone and shale Soil: Old capped silt pond. Inert material to an unknown variable depth, heavy clay/sand, thin loam topsoil Previous land use and vegetation: Working silt lake for nearby quarry for over 20 years; capped with landfi ll and 2 – 5 cm topsoil; very little vegetation, nearby vegetation is gorse, birch, uddleia, rush, annual grasses Protection: Rabbit and roe deer fence, vole guards where necessary Initial site preparation: Wing tine ripped to a depth of 0.5 – 1 m; rabbit and deer fenced
Spatial information
Coordinate reference system
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700Geographic extent
- Latitude from: 50.739 to 50.745
- Longitude from: -3.334 to -3.328
Metadata information
Language
English
Metadata identifier
6ba6eee6-ed2c-466d-9735-f2411cad5099
Published by
Forestry Commission
Contact publisher
mapping.geodata@forestry.gov.ukDataset reference dates
Creation date
13 November 1998
Revision date
13 February 2004
Publication date
N/A
Period
- From: 25 April 1994
- To: 13 November 1998
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