Community Forest Species Trial (Aldewood 1999)
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. 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.
dataset
http://data.defra.gov.uk/Forestry/FC_OpenData/FR/CommunityForestTrial_Aldewood1999.csv
protocol: http
name:
description: Data download
57ebd6a8-08d0-46c6-9253-547c27854df6
eng
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700
environment
England
environment
science
publication
2010-01-13
research
publication
2010-01-13
biodiversity
publication
2010-01-13
tree
publication
2010-01-13
introduction of plant species
publication
2010-01-13
survival
publication
2010-01-13
1.433
1.441
52.082
52.074
1993-11-24
1999-04-07
creation
1999-04-07
revision
2004-02-18
notPlanned
The experiment was based on poor quality site for tree establishment at Aldewood 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 (51.133° N, 1.85° 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 1m2 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. The site is described as: Planting date: 1993 March Elevation (metre above sea level): 13 DAMS: 13 1 WHC: 2 Continentality: 10 Annual average rainfall(mm): 600 Annual average growing degree days (>5°C): 1850 Annual average soil moisture deficit (mm): 237 Ecological site classification: Slightly dry, poor Topography: Level Underlying geological formation: Pleistocene, Red Crag Soil: 551g Newport 4 deep well-drained sandy soil with flints Previous land use and vegetation: Scots pine, clear felled 1992; vegetation bracken, bramble and gorse Protection: Rabbit and roe deer fence, vole guards where necessary. Initial site preparation: De-stumped and windrowed by March 1993
Open format | Comma Separated Values file (CSV)
NA
Contains Forestry Commission information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Forest Research must be acknowledged as the source of the data in any subsequent papers/products
Forest Research must be acknowledged as the source of the data in any subsequent papers/products
Forest Research must be acknowledged as the source of the data in any subsequent papers/products
Forestry Commission
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2024-01-17