Site code DS40

Location Allerdale

Region Cumbria

Country England-UK

Local name Wythop

Partner FR

Contact

Site characteristics

Orientation: SE, Slope:40.0°, Soil :UMBRISOLS, 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 two forested compartments comprise of Douglas fir planted in 1927 as an even-aged stand. During the 10 years before planting the stands have been undergoing transformation to irregular shelterwood. One of the stands was thinned in 1996/7 and again in 2009/10 and had patchy understorey regeneration of 10-15 years old. The other stand was thinned in 1993/4 and 2006/7 and had less understorey regeneration. Parts of this stand have already been underplanted with Douglas fir. The two restocking areas were previously Sitka spruce, planted in 1963 and felled in 2006/7. These sites were mounded prior to replanting with Douglas fir.