Caffeine in fallen leaves apparently prevents other seeds from germinating. Tannins in oak leaves changes the pH of ground preventing some plants from growing. Fallen pine needles are not a very good growth medium for anything. This from memory, I guess the list is a lot longer.
Woodland - managed or not
- Thread starter Pattree
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BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
I may be wrong but I think I read something about Scots pine and silver birch having a mutually beneficial relationship.
In the same way i don't like the Reds giving way to the Greys... But the Greys still plant oaks. The Greys still distribute fungal spores, the greys still distribute Beech mast and as important as things i said above... the Greys have more meat on 'em, and aren't protected by law.
Nom Nom.
Edit... MODS... we really need better Smiley selections on here.. The current ones for having a laugh are laughably bad. 1990's level terrible. When i click on one i'm always expecting the Outhere brothers, or Peter Andre (pre Jordan) To jump out and cheer me up... but nooo... That is all. Much love... HB
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In the UK I would suggest people don't just look at books or studies (which may be biased) but get out and look at what's happening locally.
I spend a large amount of time in one compartment of my woodland which is mostly planted via a grant, some 30ish years ago. It has 1,000s of oaks and many fruit, but there is no noticeable oak regen. Added to the fact that over 90% of the oaks have been damaged by grey squirrels along with beech and maple etc it's rather irrelevant what good greys do in that woodland.
With regard to planting in rows. A quick walk around shows the rows are very noticeable even after extensive thinning. It's newly planted trees that help break up the grid, provided they are planted randomly.
I spend a large amount of time in one compartment of my woodland which is mostly planted via a grant, some 30ish years ago. It has 1,000s of oaks and many fruit, but there is no noticeable oak regen. Added to the fact that over 90% of the oaks have been damaged by grey squirrels along with beech and maple etc it's rather irrelevant what good greys do in that woodland.
With regard to planting in rows. A quick walk around shows the rows are very noticeable even after extensive thinning. It's newly planted trees that help break up the grid, provided they are planted randomly.
^^^^ That!
There are still 20th century books, written by people that never set foot outside the southern counties, being quoted as best practice!
Dirt-time in your own area is vital; personal observation and practice invaluable.
There are still 20th century books, written by people that never set foot outside the southern counties, being quoted as best practice!
Dirt-time in your own area is vital; personal observation and practice invaluable.
Hmm.
There’s a risk to one off anecdotal reporting. I do not doubt @slowworm account and a readily admit that while my involvement in Forestry was intense it is half a century old.
The planting lines in Corsican and Scot’s pine, Tsuga and Chestnut were not evident after two thinnings at Delamere or Matlock. My experience of the Douglas at Loch Awe was hampered by the fact that entire hillsides had been brown flat in a hurricane but there was some indication of lines in the windblow. Perhaps the Scots do things differently.
About 50 square meters ( yep - that much!) of my current garden is wild. There may be as many as ten mature trees, one of which is a sessile oak. Some years there is a drey in an ash tree, sometimes there isn’t. Certainly we feed squirrels in the bird feeder. I have natural regen oak in my front hedge and among the ivy in my wild patch.
I shall be interested to get into a book that explains the advantages of random planting and its aftercare. It’s just for interest but the concept is new to me and feels difficult to manage. I’m guessing that there is a difference between beating up established woodlands and replanting a clear-felled hillside.
There’s a risk to one off anecdotal reporting. I do not doubt @slowworm account and a readily admit that while my involvement in Forestry was intense it is half a century old.
The planting lines in Corsican and Scot’s pine, Tsuga and Chestnut were not evident after two thinnings at Delamere or Matlock. My experience of the Douglas at Loch Awe was hampered by the fact that entire hillsides had been brown flat in a hurricane but there was some indication of lines in the windblow. Perhaps the Scots do things differently.
About 50 square meters ( yep - that much!) of my current garden is wild. There may be as many as ten mature trees, one of which is a sessile oak. Some years there is a drey in an ash tree, sometimes there isn’t. Certainly we feed squirrels in the bird feeder. I have natural regen oak in my front hedge and among the ivy in my wild patch.
I shall be interested to get into a book that explains the advantages of random planting and its aftercare. It’s just for interest but the concept is new to me and feels difficult to manage. I’m guessing that there is a difference between beating up established woodlands and replanting a clear-felled hillside.
It's not just anecdotal, although I've seen dozens of planted woodlands including many broadleaf plots and all the rows are visible. It's also logical, thinning does not alter the fact trees were planted in rows, i.e. the trees that are left are still in rows and if you view down the row it is obvious. I've had a quick look and can't see any thinning methodology that would stop the rows.
I tend to view woodland as something that needs to be usable and don't mind the rows so I'm not being biased.
I tend to view woodland as something that needs to be usable and don't mind the rows so I'm not being biased.
apparently 2 Greys = 1 rabbit in the pot, thumbs up for that.
A radio squirrel joke last night - allegedly male greys rarely breed a 2nd time with the same female, - maybe it's because they can not remember where they last buried their nuts!
A radio squirrel joke last night - allegedly male greys rarely breed a 2nd time with the same female, - maybe it's because they can not remember where they last buried their nuts!
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