The long-term development of temperate woodland creation sites: from tree saplings to mature woodlands

Abstract Tree planting is at the forefront of current environmental agenda to mitigate climate change and tackle biodiversity crisis. In United Kingdom (UK), tree has been a priority for more than century helped increase woodland cover from historic low 5 per cent beginning 20th figure 13 cent. However, we still know relatively little about long-term development creation sites (particularly native woodlands) over ecologically realistic timescales. We surveyed chronosequence 133 temperate patches encompassing 106 (10–160 years old) 27 mature ‘ancient’ woodlands (>250 old), using combination field surveys remote sensing techniques quantify vegetation structural changes associated with development. Woodland displayed similar patterns those described other systems, i.e. gradual transition as undergo ‘stand initiation’, ‘stem exclusion’ ‘understorey re-initiation’ stages, became time. Structural heterogeneity, average size density were attributes that varied most among developmental stages. general, heterogeneity increased age, whilst decreased would be expected. Younger in stand initiation strongly dominated by short vegetation, stem exclusion taller trees older had even height distribution. There was large degree overlap between characteristics understorey re-initiation stages ancient (partly driven lack regeneration understorey); these results suggest it takes 80 160 develop certain included this study. management practices create canopy gaps reducing grazing/browsing pressure promote natural are likely accelerate transition, value enable adaptation resilience change.