Assessing biodiversity changes in British woodland 1971-2001
13 July 2005
English Heritage Lecture Theatre, Savile Row, London
We cannot prepare for future change unless we understand how woods have changed in the
past. We need to be able to separate the effects of long-term, but cyclical processes from
directional change.
In the morning at this meeting we discussed the findings from a resurvey of 103 woods
spread across Britain, that were first looked at in 1971. Standardised methods of describing
the trees, shrubs, ground flora, soils and general habitats present were used that were
then repeated in 1999-2003.
Key results from the work included
- a rise in soil pH
- an increase in woody basal area and decline in open habitats
- a marked decline in ground flora diversity.
Various factors have contributed to the changes in the woods and significant correlations
were found with climate change measures, modelled nitrogen deposition and with stand
development changes.
In the afternoon other broader woodland studies were outlined (Countryside Survey 2000,
National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, UK Phenology Network, SSSI Condition Surveys) and
links made with the findings from these.
The value of long-term studies was emphasised, but also the need for more integration between
different types of study.
The report from the 1971-2001 survey is:
Kirby, KJ, Smart, SM, Black, HIJ, Bunce, RGH, Corney, PM and Smithers, RJ (2005) Long term
ecological change in British woodland (1971-2001). Peterborough: English Nature (Research
Report 653).
It is also available as a pdf file from www.english-nature.org.uk
under Publications.
Keith Kirby
| 
AREA OF INTEREST:
Home
Meeting reports
