Forests in Britain

Question 1

What is the ratio of broafleaf to conifer in England and Scotland?

Answer 1

Ratios are polar oppopsite.
In england, 75% broadleaves
In Scotland 75% conifer

Question 2

What is the total Broadleaf/ COnifer composition in the entire UK?

Answer 2

49% broadlead / 51% conifer

Question 3

What is the ratio of Broadleaf/Conifer composition in Forestry commission land only?

Answer 3

15% broadleaf / 85% conifer

Question 4

What is the ratio of Broadleaf/conifer composition in Non-FC land only?

Answer 4

More broadleaves than FC:
60% broadleaf / 40% conifer

Question 5

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 5

Scots Pine

Question 6

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 6

Norway Spruce (picea Abies)

Question 7

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 7

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Typically planted on nutrient-rich brown earth sites with good moisture and aeration.

Question 8

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 8

European Larch- tolerates acidic, low nutrient soils, but likes gravelly aerated soil.

Question 9

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 9

English/common Oak.

Prefers deep, brown earth soil which has moderate nutrient levels. But will manage fine in acidic soils. Needs to be fairly well drained and moist. Loams usually.

Question 10

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 10

Beech grow best in well drained dry soils. Heavy clay must be avoided. Shade tolerant.

Question 11

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 11

Sitka Spruce, not fussy, poor-medium nutrient conditions, and happy in acidic soils. Will tolerate drained peats and gleys.

Picea sitchensis.

Question 12

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 12

Lodgepole Pine- not fussy. Nutrient poor soils, from podzols to peats. Very tolerant to acid soils.

Question 13

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 13

Japanese Larch: moist low nutrient soil, not waterlogged. Acidic soils welcome.

Question 14

Identify the following Tree Species and Site typically planted?

Answer 14

Aspen (populus tremula)

Well drained soil, and needs open sunlight (intolerant to shade).

Question 15

Name The Native Heathers, and What kind of environments do they indicate?

Answer 15

1. Bell Heather - bright purple/pink flowers. dry site, decent drainage, doesnt like bogs.
2. Common Heather- small flowers distributed up the stem, also called ling. Present in both wet and dry regions.
3. cross leaved heath- concentrated larger flowers at top of stem. Found at the fringes of bogs. They are bog loving.

Question 16

Why does douglas fir only account for 1.7% of Scotlands planted area?

Answer 16

Douglas fir is a very fussy tree, and will not survive or do very well on the poor quality of land we allocate to forestry now days. They need soil with plenty of nutrients (Classification 1-3a).

Question 17

What does this picture show?

Answer 17

This is an example of dothistroma needle blight (DNB) which is a fungus that originated on Corsican Pine and has since spread to scots pine and lodgepole.

Question 18

Which disease was first discovered in 2009 in the UK?

Answer 18

Phytophthera ramorum found in japanese larch. It was a fungal like organism that spread on the West/SW coasts where it is wetter and has since spread throughout the UK.

Question 19

What is an SPHN?

Answer 19

Statutory plant health notice: It is a notice provided to the land owner or manager which enforces and requires them to eradicate the disease on their land.

Question 20

Which disease spread in 2012 and why was it well documented?

Answer 20

Ash Dieback/Chalara
Well documented because it directly affected one of the UKs native tree species, Ash. ALmost no ash has been planted since.

Question 21

What does Tree species choice depend on? And what may limit the choices on site?

Answer 21

Tree species choice depends on;

• owners objectives (i.e. commercial timber or woodland).
• Site Type
• regulations/grant requirements (e.g. 5%< broadleaf required now).

On site, choices may be limited due to:

• Soil dertility, depth and drainage.
• climate
• pests and disease

Question 22

What are the main soil types found in Scotland? Explain.

Answer 22

Brown Earth- best soil, oten used for agriculture, but forests love it too. well drained, good nutrient status. Broadleaves love it (e.g. oak, beech) as well as douglas fir.

Podzol- predominantly coniferous woodlands planted. Usually fairly well drained, but may have specific layers (induration) such as Iron pan layer, which may impede drainage. Acidic soil, poor nutrient status.

Gley- poorly drained and very poor nutrient status.

Peat- organic rich soil, poorly drained and very poor nutrient status. Very acidic too. You cannot plant on this, as peat is a valuable carbon sink.

Question 23

What are the different soil textures usually encountered?

Answer 23

Sand, silt, clay and loam (mix)

Question 24

What does SMR and SNR mean?

Answer 24

SMR- soil moisture regime- soil type and texture
SNR- Soil nutrient regime- soil type and indicator plants

Question 25

Identify the 3 types of heather in the image below:

Answer 25