National Inventory of Woodland and Trees |
Over one half (53%) of the total woodland area in Great Britain is made up of conifers although this proportion ranges from 31% in England to 72% in Scotland.
Sitka spruce accounted for almost one half (49%) of the conifer area in Great Britain, followed by Scots pine (16%) and Lodgepole pine (10%). Amongst broadleaf species, Oak covered 23% of the broadleaf area, followed by Birch (16%) and Ash (13%).
Species |
England |
Wales |
Scotland |
GB |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
thousand hectares | |||||
Conifers |
|||||
Scots pine |
82 |
5 |
140 |
227 |
|
Corsican pine |
41 |
3 |
2 |
47 |
|
Lodgepole pine |
7 |
6 |
122 |
135 |
|
Sitka spruce |
80 |
84 |
528 |
692 |
|
Norway spruce |
32 |
11 |
35 |
79 |
|
European larch |
14 | 1 | 9 | 23 | |
Japanese/hybrid larch |
33 | 22 | 56 | 111 | |
Douglas fir |
24 | 11 | 10 | 45 | |
Other conifer |
19 | 6 | 5 | 30 | |
Mixed conifer |
9 | 0 | 8 | 18 | |
Total Conifers |
340 |
149 |
916 |
1 406 |
|
Broadleaves |
|||||
Oak |
159 | 43 | 21 | 223 | |
Beech |
64 | 9 | 10 | 83 | |
Sycamore |
49 | 7 | 11 | 67 | |
Ash |
105 | 19 | 5 | 129 | |
Birch |
70 | 13 | 78 | 160 | |
Poplar |
11 | 1 | 0 | 12 | |
Sweet chestnut |
12 | 1 | 0 | 12 | |
Elm |
4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
Other broadleaves |
84 | 18 | 18 | 120 | |
Mixed broadleaves |
91 | 8 | 62 | 160 | |
Total broadleaves |
648 | 118 | 206 | 971 | |
Total - all species |
988 | 266 | 1 123 | 2 377 | |
Felled |
15 | 9 | 23 | 47 | |
Coppice1 |
22 | 0 | 1 | 24 | |
Open space2 |
72 | 11 | 134 | 217 | |
Total woodland |
1 097 |
287 |
1 281 |
2 665 |
Not National Statistics.
Source: 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees.
Notes:
1. Coppice includes coppice with standards.
2. Areas of integral open space, each less than 1 hectare.
Figure 1.1 Main tree species in GB
Not National Statistics.
Source: 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees.