What is the project

 

The timing, or seasonality, of natural events in woodland is a key factor in influencing their type, character and survival. In many cases woodland animals depend on the emergence of leaves or regrowth of plants for food in the spring. Also the growth of trees is linked to the length of the growing season. Generally, changes to the timing of bud burst are likely to have a greater impact on the growth than a delay in the onset of autumn. This is because the energy input from the sun is much larger in the spring (April / May) than autumn (November).

The timing of oak bud burst and climate change

The study of the timing of these natural events is known as phenology, which has a long history in the UK. Phenology has now evolved from being a pastime for nature lovers to being recognised as a valuable tool in monitoring the impacts of climate change. This is because of the wealth of long term information that’s now available, collected by people often observing what’s happening in their garden. Phenology doesn’t require elaborate and expensive equipment – often a pen and paper will do.

Forestry Commission scientists, working in collaboration with the UK Phenology Network (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology & Woodland Trust), are interested in the timing of oak bud burst as this is now used as an indicator of climate change. The timing of oak bud burst has been collected since 1736. In the last 50 years there has been a remarkable change in the budburst dates, which now happens several weeks earlier than in 1947.

If you are interested in finding more about phenology, visit www.phenology.org.uk.