adaptation within species to meet new
challenges. Ash trees with tolerance will
prosper, providing the raw material to
improve the species and produce more
productive trees.”
Clare said: “A strategy for the UK, for
native species and those bred or naturalised
to UK conditions, helps us to understand
genetic diversity and to effect in situ and ex
situ conservation of our trees.”
Aspirations include a steering group
to coordinate the many activities and
organisations working with UKFGR (UK
Forest Genetic Resources).
Auditing ex situ collections (in seed
banks, field trials, arboretums and botanic
gardens) will show what material is already
held. Collating the research to date will
highlight knowledge gaps and stimulate
further research (and funding) topics. This
work will help in tree planting and provide
a framework for reporting into international
structures.
Clare said: “Establishing a network
of gene conservation units, woodlands
representing distinct genetic variations of
particular species managed to promote
regeneration and continued adaptation to
changing conditions, has begun with the
ancient Caledonian pine forest at Beinn
Eighe (National Nature Reserve). Oak, horse
chestnut and sweet chestnut cannot be seed-
banked using conventional techniques and
we have to consider how to manage that.”
The next step is to develop an action plan.
48 AUGUST 2019 FORESTRYJOURNAL.CO.UK
The Future Trees
Trust, a consortium of
partners funded mostly
by private charitable
donations, is the UK’s
only tree improvement
charity.
“We want to grow
trees more economically
attractive to landowners; those
with a better chance of survival
and increased timber yields,” said
chief executive officer Tim Rowland.
“Why? New planting has plummeted; so
has hardwood management and timber
production. Woodland wildlife species have
also declined by 34 per cent. HMS Victory is
reputedly being restored with French oak.”
Working with timber-producing species
(ash, birch, cherry, walnut, sycamore, sweet
chestnut and oak), breeding improvement
trials are already underway, using material
collected from ‘plus trees’ – “those trees
adapted to local climate, pest and disease
free, quick growing with straight, circular
stems and fine branches”.
In one Californian breeding improvement
programme, “birch got out of the ground
quicker, with reduced establishment and
long-term maintenance costs, shorter
rotation times, probably producing higher-
quality timber. We hope demonstration plots
in the UK will convince the forestry sector.
“Help us to change the planting and
granting system to ensure improvedmaterial is used.
Question provenance
and use plants grown
from improved seed or
from a qualified seed
stand.”
Dr Jo Clark explains
the FTT hopes to bring
to market improved seed
(qualified and tested) for key
timber species by developing
clonal seed orchards (CSOs). “In
January, we planted four CSOs for
oak, Q. petraea and Q. robur. We cannot
seed-bank acorns so these orchards are an
important genetic resource, accessible to
anyone.”
With the Woodland Trust, the FTT is
working on a sustainable seed source
project for minor species (hornbeam, lime),
and with Forest Research on modeling
where (geographically) seeds from clonal
orchards should be deployed.
Both the Living Ash Project and Forest
Research’s Mass Screening Trails gathered
material from tolerant trees to graft and
grow on. In January 2020, grafted trees will
be planted out on the public forest estate,
forming a living ‘UK Ash Archive’ from
which more selection and testing work for
tolerance or resistance will be pursued.
Over 25 years, the FTT has selected
1,400 ‘plus trees’ for seven key commercial
broadleaves, established 16 CSOs for
sycamore, chestnut, silver and downyFUTURE TREES TRUST
“WE WANT TO GROW
TREES MORE ECONOMICALLY
ATTRACTIVE TO LANDOWNERS;
THOSE WITH A BETTER
CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.”
Speakers (l – r): Stephen
Cavers (Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology); Clare
Trivedi (RBG Kew); Richard
Deverell (RBG Kew); Dr Jo
Clark (Future Trees Trust);
Sir William Worlsey (Tree
Champion, DEFRA); Lord
Gardiner (Minister for Rural
Affairs and Biosecurity,
DEFRA); Professor Nicola
Spence (Chief Plant Health
Officer, DEFRA); Steve Lee
(National Tree Improvement
Strategy).