Join our South East England Member Network for a visit to Weston Common to view an operational research experiment that was planted in 2018/19 to compare four native broadleaved species with 12 non-native species.

This large experiment, of more than ten hectares, was established on a site at Weston Common that was previously Nothofagus clearfelled after infection by Phytophthora pseudosyringae. The site is also the location for the National Archive of Tolerant Ash established and managed by the Future Trees Trust. Weston Common also contains a series of species and provenances trials established by the Forestry Commission between 1950 and 1980, known as the ‘Weston Common Old Trials’. The experiments contain many of the species that we are now considering as part of efforts to diversify species composition and include Acer macrophyllum, Abies amabilis, Abies magnifica, Abies grandis, Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Quercus faginea, Quercus canariensis, Castanea crenata, Tilia platyphyllos and Alnus cordata.

Speakers

Professor Julian Evans OBE FICFor - Forest Scientist
The history of research trials at Weston Common

Mike Pittock MICFor - Head of Planning and Environment, Forestry England

Michael Ullman MICFor - Forest Management Operations Manager, Forestry England
Site preparation, planting and maintenance

Chris Reynolds - Tree Species Silviculturist, Forest Research
Establishment of the research trial and the performance of individual tree species to date