Advice needed for planting a woodland in Somerset

[emilytree]

For my Dad's 60th B'day he is planting a smallish woodland (1-2 acres)in Sommerset. He has been advised/ had a plan drawn up by somebody who is proposing to plant mainly Sycamores, I am rather sceptical of this being the right choice, as i believe these to be the trees which ooze lots of sap and have been advised that Sycamores are like weeds which self plant and can be a pain, also that they create a very dark floor to the woodland.

I know my Dad is keen on Beech trees, though i know nothing of their pros and cons. I do know he would ideally like to have some bluebells established. I know he will plant just a few oaks (for the future which will be slower growing)

I particularly love trees which have low branching, possibly known as 'forked trees' and would love to include a few of these, does anyone know how this is possible?

Most of the trees are being transplanted, but obviously things to be considered are; how easy a tree is to establish and speed of growth. We hope that the woodland can be enjoyed for many years by my Dad and is something that will mature and flourish for the future.

I would be very grateful for advice on which trees to select.

[The Woodman]

An opportunity to create a new woodland - how exciting.

As you've had some advice already emilytree, I wouldn't want to contradict anything you've been told btu there's a couple of things I might suggest.

You don't say what sort of ground is to be planted i.e. rough pasture, wetland or rocky ground. Different substrates can determine the optimum tree species for the available land. Beech prefers a limestone or chalk substrate and is fairly shallow rooted. It is a good species to underplant as it bears shade well and will grow quickly under a planned shorter life species - even conifers.

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.

A couple of conifers wouldn't go amiss in the right place. A Scots or Corsican Pine will withstand the weather as individual trees and provide a contribution to the variety of available food to beast and bird. The deciduous European Larch can give some interesting branch forms.

Whilst I am on my feet don't forget a couple of crab apple trees.

I've lifted this useful link from a newsletter I got today. You might get some more free advice from the link.


MOREwoods is a simple scheme to help you create beautiful new native woodland – with advice and help from the Woodland Trust. In just 12 years you could be walking under the canopy of your own flourishing young forest of native trees; oak, ash, hazel, rowan. Native woods are a haven for wildlife and beneficial for our health and well being. In addition, they can also provide excellent game cover, produce valuable products such as timber and woodfuel, help with pollution control, reduce soil erosion and can make an important contribution to addressing the challenges of land management in the face of climate change.

MOREwoods is available to landowners throughout the UK with a minimum of one hectare (2.5 acres) but that could comprise a number of smaller areas. Contact alistairnash@woodlandtrust.org.uk for further information.

Good luck with the project and I hope your Dad enjoys his rather special birthday present.

[eeyore]

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.

.

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)

[Ilex]

I would not go for Sycamores. A broadleaf mixture as stated above with bluebells, wild primroses, wood anemones, butchers broom, ivy to name but a few, thrown in for good measure. Stick to British natives - if you want fast growing then Silver Birch (Betula pendula), Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) and Rowan (Sorbus Acuparia) would fit the bill as well as Hawthorn (Craetagus Monogyna). What about adding some Wild Service trees (Sorbus torminalis) as although native, they are getting scarce in the wild.

Speak to the Woodland Trust and visit their website: The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity

Additionally, this website is great: The Woodland Trust | Welcome to British Trees

What an exciting project!

Graeme

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Ilex

What about adding some Wild Service trees (Sorbus torminalis) as although native, they are getting scarce in the wild.

If you find yourself near Watford, Herts., I can let you have a Wild Service tree in a pot.

Jim

[Jez]

Hopes grove nurseries give information on how much trees grow per annum as an indicator! As for native woodland shade loving plants I suggest Naturescape who also as well as suppling native seed mixtures/plugs/bulbs/climbers/ferns etc also give good advice! I'm quite curious to how many trees you will need for the land size your father has!? All the very best with it - Jez

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

If you find yourself near Watford, Herts., I can let you have a Wild Service tree in a pot.

Jim

Hi Jim was it you last winter who was looking for Spindle pods? If so I have a few!

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Jez

Hi Jim was it you last winter who was looking for Spindle pods? If so I have a few!

No - it was someone else and I offered them. Thanks anyway!

Jim

[Gill Catton]

I would only add that it might be worth checking what kind of grassland/ wasteground you are planting on to make sure you're not affecting some nice rich wildflower or Heath areas. And also don't plant trees too close together and have lots of open glades as these are excellent for wildlife and give you nice little pools of light within the woodland.

Oh bother... Just saw this was an old thread... Oops!

[Monkey Orchid]

Hi, emilytree. I see that this thread is a couple of months old, so I hope that additional info/ideas are still useful to you!

I'd agree with what's been said so far in this thread re suitable species for creating a new woodland.

As for sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, when I was first getting involved in conservation about twenty years ago it was seen as a 'pest species' in woodlands, to be ripped out at every opportunity. Nowadays there is more awareness of its conservation value: it establishes well and quickly in most soils and growing conditions, and can be a valuable shelter belt tree (I used to see sycamores growing in tree-denuded Northumberland uplands where few other broadleaf species could cope with the biting winds). It also supports a high biomass of invertebrates, which birds feed on. But... as noted already in this thread, it does cast a heavy shade and will therefore reduce species diversity in the ground layer of a woodland. It can also proliferate in woodland areas which are regularly disturbed (e.g. along rides or where coppicing or felling is carried out). I'd go with the truly native field maple Acer campestre as suggested by others here - it's a lovely tree with an attractive gnarly growth form and pretty bright yellow autumn leaf colour. Also, what about holly Ilex aquifolium as one of your species? It grows well in shade (making it a useful understorey species) and is great for birds.

I'd suggest an approach for creating a new woodland would be to visit a few existing semi-natural ancient woodlands in your locality, and record what tree, shrub and non-woody plant species are present. Alternatively, find out if the Woodland Trust and/or Somerset Wildlife Trust have species lists for any woodland sites which they own, and ask them if they're happy to share info with you. This should give you an idea of suitable species to include in your dad's new woodland.

As an ongoing project, why not collect some tree seed from local woodlands next autumn and grow on some of your own trees to add to your dad's woodland? This is free and fun - and you can be sure that you're planting trees and shrubs which are adapted to local soils and climatic conditions.

I don't know which area of Somerset your dad's woodland will be planted in, but South Somerset District Council (SSDC) have produced a handy tree and shrub species guide for planting new woodlands:

http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/medi...CIES_GUIDE.pdf

SSDC also offer advice on suppliers for native tree species, woodland design and info about grants available for tree planting. Their comprehensive website is at:

South Somerset District Council - Trees for Communities

There is a list of ancient woodland indicator plant species for Somerset, produced by Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC): this could be a useful resource for choosing plants for your dad's new woodland. It includes the following species: wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, woodruff Galium odoratum, snowdrop Galnthus nivalis, tutsan Hypericum androsaemum, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon, common Solomon's-seal Polygonatum multiflorum, hard-shield fern Polystichum aculeatum, goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus auricormus and early dog violet Viola reichenbachiana. Tree and shrub species on the list include: wild cherry Prunus avium, wych elm Ulmus glabra, yew Taxus baccata , sessile oak Quercus petraea and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis.

For more useful conservation/species info, SERC's website is at Somerset Environmental Records Centre

Kingsfield Conservation Nursery (Broadenham Lane, Winsham, Chard, Somerset, TA20 4JF; Tel. 01460-30070) is a local supplier of native wild plants and seeds.

It is worth bearing in mind the effects of climate change when choosing your species for planting. Like your dad, I love beech trees... But UK forestry and woodland experts believe that our native beech Fagus sylvatica is likely to be adversely affected by increasingly drier and warmer weather in southern England, and predictions seem to be that it will eventually be replaced in southern woodlands by ash Fraxinus excelsior.

You may also want to be mindful of pathogen Phytophthora ramorum when planting - this causes disease in trees and shrubs (known as Sudden Oak Death in the USA). It is most commonly seen on Rhododendron ponticum and Viburnum species, but has also recently been recorded in Somerset on Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi, Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla, beech, oak and birch trees.

As a last piece of advice: resist the temptation to plant larger trees or shrubs for 'instant impact' - smaller plants are more likely than larger ones to tolerate stress when transplanted, establishing better and growing faster. Aftercare in the first few years is also important, e.g. plastic tubes/tree shelters to minimise damage from herbivore grazing and mulching around the base of trees to conserve moisture and reduce competition from surrounding plants.

Best wishes for your woodland project... And do let us know how your dad's woodland develops, it'd be lovely to know how you get on!