Quote:
Originally Posted by The Woodman  I agree with your reservations about sycamore. Personally I would go for a nice broadleaf mixture including Field Maple (which will give you some lower branching and a squatter profile), Oak, Beech, Hornbeam, Lime with a Hazel and Holly understorey.
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I'd agree too - I suspect that the person who reccomended sycamores is thinking that they are fast growing and somewhat disease resistant - however sycamores are not a good choice for a majority tree in a new woodland as because they are fast growning and dense canopied they will shade out the other trees (and also the understory and herbaceous flora) - it is this factor that makes them a tree weed in managed woodlands (particularly coppice).
I'd concur in the woodmans choices except that i might also add ash to the list , and possibly sweet chestnut depending on the soil type. I'd also mention that honbeams are very prone to grey squirel damage - to the point where they are often planted as a sacrificial crop in comercial broadleaf forestry to keep the squirels away from other trees
Id also suggest that your dad joins
the small woods association as they, and indeed their magazine "smallwoods" are a fount of knowledge on these types of issues. Perhaps someone could give him a subscription as a birthday present. I'd also reccomend
living woods magazine as another useful source of help and advice.
also with regard to the bluebells it is important that he get native bluebells not the spanish or hybrid varieties, see
flora locale for advice on that.
Finally i'd mention that i'm only just down the road in wiltshire so if you dad would like to talk through these issues in greater detail i'd be happy to discuss them with him, or meet up/ visit the site if he wished. (Pm me for a phone number and /or to arrange)