Site code DS39

Location Ruthin

Region Denbighshire

Country Wales-UK

Local name Clocaenog

Partner FR

Contact

Site characteristics

Orientation: SE, Slope:20.0°, Soil :CAMBISOLS, Bedrock : siltstone

PH :,

Hydrology

Free draining

Short History of the site

copyrigth IEFC network

Under conditions of climate change restocking is likely to become increasingly challenging and require more intensive silvicultural care. This experiment examines the impact of microclimate on growth and survival of planted Douglas fir trees. Seedlings have been planted on open clearfell sites and under an irregular shelterwood to identify relationships between microclimate conditions and growth and survival of seedlings. The forested compartment comprises of Sitka spruce, planted in 1946 as an even-aged stand. During the 6 years before planting the stand had been undergoing transformation to a uniform shelterwood. The stand was thinned in 2010. There was little understorey natural regeneration and a relatively dense vegetation of grasses and bramble. The nearby open restocking area was previously Sitka spruce and was due for replanting in 2012. The ground vegetation at planting was a dense vegetation of grasses and willowherb with a large amount of harvesting residue on the site. There was some natural regeneration occurring on the site.