Woodland regeneration in relation to grazing and fencing in Coed Gorswen, north Wales.
Abstract
Seedling regeneration was studied in woodland composed mainly of oak (Quercus robur and Q. petraea), alder (Alnus glutinosa), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). Species diversity and abundance of seedlings and saplings did not reflect the relative abundances of mature trees. Most seedlings were of ash and most saplings of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and ash; oak regeneration was very sparse. In grazed plots, few seedlings survived beyond 2 yr. Sycamore was the most susceptible to grazing and hawthorn the least. It was concluded that gaps caused by the death of mature trees would be filled by sycamore and ash in ungrazed areas, and in grazed areas by hawthorn and ash.