Are you willing to have a research plot in your woodland?
News from Forest Research: December 2008
Since the formation of the Forestry Commission, Forest Research (and its forebears) has created and maintained a network of permanent sample plots. The data from these plots are invaluable and form the basis of essential publications like the Forest Mensuration Handbook, Roundwood and Sawlog Volume Tables and Timber Measurement, which are used extensively throughout the forestry sector.
The data are also used to develop national yield models that help to estimate the effects of different silvicultural treatments on production forecasts for Great Britain. For this reason it is important to represent the variation found within the whole forest estate, in terms of location, species and management. Currently, most plots are on Forestry Commission-owned land, but historically there have always been plots on private estates. Forest Research is very grateful for the valuable co-operation it receives from private woodland owners and is seeking to increase this type of collaboration.
Forest Research is keen to establish new plots in stands of a number of different species and mixtures of species. If you own a woodland and would be happy to have a research plot on it, then Forest Research would like to hear from you. Individual plots are normally established at the time of first thinning and occupy about 0.25 hectares. They are usually re-measured on a five-year cycle, although this can be adjusted to coincide with local forest management plans. All research work is undertaken with the permission of the woodland owner.
If you would like to help or have any comments or questions, please contact either of the following for more details:
Ian Craig
Tel: 01420 526286 or email: ian.craig@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Miriam White
Tel: 01420 526283 or email: miriam.white@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
