National Forest Species Trial (Church Gresley 1999)
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
All species were native to the region except Acer saccharinum L. (silver maple) and Alnus incana (L.) Moench (grey alder). Two-year-old planting stock was used. Some stock was sourced from reputable supplies, some grown from seed at Headley Research Nursery, UK (51° 08 ′ N, 1° 51 ′ W). The experiment was maintained for four growing seasons at Church Gresley. 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 year 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 1995 Elevation (metre above sea level): 110 DAMS: 11 WHC: 3 Continentality: 11 Annual average rainfall (mm): 700 Annual average growing degree days (>5°C): 1627 Annual average soil moisture deficit (mm): 167 Ecological Site Classification: Moderately dry, medium Topography: Gently sloping to south-west Underlying geological formation: Carboniferous shale with coal measures and beds of sandstone Soil: 572c Hodnet, fine to coarse reddish loam Previous land use and vegetation: Restored low-grade agricultural pasture; previously subject to China clay workings Protection: Rabbit fence, vole guards where necessary Initial site preparation: Ripped using agricultural subsoiler to a depth of 50 cm with 125 cm between lines
Spatial information
Coordinate reference system
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700Geographic extent
- Latitude from: 52.749 to 52.757
- Longitude from: -1.567 to -1.559
Metadata information
Language
English
Metadata identifier
f03384fd-8f20-41a2-8168-f864826084d8
Published by
Forestry Commission
Contact publisher
mapping.geodata@forestry.gov.ukDataset reference dates
Creation date
21 January 1999
Revision date
N/A
Publication date
06 June 2016
Period
- From: 01 March 1995
- To: 21 January 1999
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