Native species
Species which are native to the local area should be the first choice when planting woodlands for wildlife and amenity. Planting such species helps maintain distinctive local types of woodland, and helps form the basis of woodland ecosystems which are adapted to local conditions. Stock of local provenance (see below) can be bought from tree nurseries, or you can propagate your own stock from locally collected seed (Chapter 5 – Propagation).
The map and tables below are reproduced with permission from the publication Using Local Stock for Planting Native Trees and Shrubs (Forestry Commission, 1999), which should be consulted for full details.
The Forestry Commission is promoting the use of plants of local provenance for planting in semi-natural woodlands, or where native woodlands are to be created by planting. The voluntary system described in the leaflet has been introduced to provide a framework for supplying trees of local provenance. The system is of great importance to the British tree nursery industry, as there is a strong interest in planting local species, but until the introduction of this system, there was no standard for deciding what constituted ‘local’, or of knowing from where the seed of purchased trees had been gathered. The system has relevance for seed gatherers, growers of trees, landscape designers, and those who buy and plant trees.
It includes:
- Guidance to seed collectors on methods of identifying individual trees which are likely to be of local origin (see map above).
- A system for issuing a certificate of local provenance to identify the source of particular seeds and seedlings.
- Information which gives planters and designers clear information on which species are appropriate for the area where they wish to plant.
Alterations may be made to various procedures as the system is adopted, but within a few years it should mean that plants of local provenance can be reliably obtained for all areas of the country.
The local seed zones have been drawn up based on climatic and geological variation. In the south east, where climatic differences are small, divisions have also taken account of broad patterns of the natural distribution of native species. Within each seed zone conditions are broadly similar, and therefore seed collected from trees long growing in that zone, is thought to be the best match to provide stock for planting in that zone.
From the list of species appropriate to your local seed zone, trees and shrubs must also be chosen according to their suitability to different soil types and degrees of exposure.
Non-native species
Woodlands planted for timber production may include non-native or non-local species where these are planted to produce a commercial crop for a particular market. However, it should be noted that historically many such plantations have not repaid their investment because markets have changed by the time the crop matures.
Non-native or non-local species may have a role on very exposed sites, where they act as a nurse to the desired final species. likewise, some soils which are highly disturbed, very low in nutrients or contaminated may only be able to support woodland cover of non-native species.
Of the introduced species, only conifers have been widely used in plantations, with sweet chestnut planted for coppicing. Particular strains of poplar and willow have been planted for commercial use. Most other introduced species have been planted in parks and gardens, and have not been generally used to create areas of woodland.
Of the native species with limited range, beech and Scot’s pine have been widely planted throughout Britain. Introduced or selected strains of oaks and other trees have been planted in existing woodlands and in plantations, with the aim of producing higher quality commercial timber.
There are many publications on various aspects of non- native trees, ranging from their use in parks and gardens, to the silviculture of non-native trees in plantations. The Forestry commission publish detailed information on species with commercial value, and other selected titles are given in the bibliography. Some tree nursery catalogues give useful information on the use of non-native species which they supply.
