Ground flora regeneration in replanted native Caledonian woodland
in Glen Affric

MSc Dissertation
Andrew Detheridge
Imperial College London
(University of London)
September 2006

Primroses (Primula vulgaris) in flower amongst mossy logs in the ravine of the Allt na Imrich burn in Glen Affric.

Abstract

Caledonian pine forest is currently a remnant of its former extent. The EU Habitats Directive and UK Habitat Action Plans make restoration of Caledonian pine forest a priority in order to extent the current range of this important habitat.

Restoration ecology implies that all ecological functions of the habitat are restored as far as possible and in terms of native pine forest this includes a restoration of the ground flora, but as yet little work has been done on the feasibility of early reintroduction of a typical flora to native pines. At Glen Affric the Forestry Commission and Trees for Life are involved in an ongoing project to restore native woodland to the valley that currently exists in isolated fragments surrounded by plantation woodland and open moorland. The project entails fencing against grazing animals that allows for natural regeneration and sapling planting of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (var. scotica)) and native broadleaves.

The aim of the current project is to assess the suitability of the regenerating areas for establishment of native pine woodland and its typical ground flora, and suggest a list of candidate ground flora species for introduction with an introduction strategy for each. To achieve the aim the flora of 5 moorland sites and 5 areas of native woodland were surveyed. The NVC of each quadrat was calculated along with the British Ellenberg factors. The data were then analysed through a method of ordination known as detrended correspondence analysis to determine the main factors that give rise to the variation in the quadrat data, as this may inform on the suitability of moorland stands for pine woodland and the factors within pine woodland that give rise to a particular flora. The ordination suggested that moisture is the main determinant of variation in open land vegetation and light is the main determinant of variation in woodland vegetation. In addition a decision making tool, Ecological Site Classification (ESC), developed by the Forestry Commission was used to assess each moorland site’s suitability.

Results from ESC and ordination indicate that some stands may be too wet for typical pine woodland to develop and the likely result would be a mosaic of open moor, bog woodland and woodland. In addition ordination results for
woodland stands suggest that a canopy must develop before typical ground flora can be reintroduced. From the
woodland stands a list of candidate species was derived and the literature surveyed to assess the suitability of each for
reintroduction to regenerating stands.

Pages about woodland ground flora on this site

• Species profile: Lesser Twayblade
• Species profile: Creeping ladies tresses
• Species profile: Twinflower
• Vascular Plants occurring in Glen Affric
• Vascular Plants, Ferns and Clubmosses recorded on Dundreggan
• Which local environmental factors are most important in determining the health and success of twinflower (Linnaea borealis) in northern Scotland? - results of a research project in 2010
• Ground flora regeneration in replanted native Caledonian woodland in Glen Affric
  - results of a research project in 2006

• The Trees for Life Woodland Ground Flora Project
• Return of the Flowers Appeal
• Flowers of the Forest Update Spring 2009
• Flowers of the Forest, Caledonia Wild! Winter 2007
• Woodland Ground Flora, Caledonia Wild! Summer 2007
• Ground Flora Propagation Trials, Caledonia Wild! Winter 2006-07
• Regenerating woodland flora - a next stage in the forest restoration process, Caledonia Wild! Summer 2002

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