Responses of an ancient woodland field layer to soil translocation: methods and timing

Craig, Marja; Buckley, Peter; Howell, R.

doi:10.1111/avsc.12170

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The validity of the rationale is supported by other experiences in Australia that initial sowing/planting determines at least the first generation of the new woodland community and structure (Humphries, 2016). The experiences at Brickhouse Wood, Biggins Wood, Mold By-Pass, Stansted Airport have also shown that the commoner occurring ground layer species in the woodlands present in the first year of translocation generally survived to and beyond the development of a canopy in ten to twenty years later (Anderson, 2003;Craig et al, 2015;Buckley et al, 2017). However, longer-term monitoring has demonstrated that caution is needed, as the intended developing community may not happen, without intervention, owing to the dominance of some of the component species (Humphries, 2016).…”

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…For oak woodland of a similar structural condition as the Donor areas this is some 70 years into the future. From previous experiences reported for woodland translocations it is likely that it will be one or two decades before a functional canopy is likely to have developed (Anderson, 2003;Craig et al, 2015;Buckley et al, 2017). The data from these reports suggest that the initial vegetation, even after 1-3 years, can be indicative of the type and nature of the future woodland.…”

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…However, longer-term monitoring has demonstrated that caution is needed, as the intended developing community may not happen, without intervention, owing to the dominance of some of the component species (Humphries, 2016). Anderson (2003) and Craig et al (2015) refer to the competitiveness of re-establishing species such as grass H. mollis, the soft-rush Juncus effusus, and the thistle C. arvense during the first four years after translocation, and Anderson (2003) and Buckley et al (2017) to later, years 6-11, competition from the scrambling small shrub R. fruticosus prior to tree/shrub canopy development. The latter can also be a feature of regenerating felled and coppiced woodlands (Peterken and Mountford, 2017).…”

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The common practice of using mature woodland as reference sites for evaluation purposes has been questioned (Humphries, 2015), where immature stands in a similar state, and where the outcome can be reasonably predicted, are likely to be the more appropriate. In the case here, the composition of the initial post translocation vegetation as reported by Craig et al (2015) and Buckley et al (2017) are relevant and for the reasons set out above, can be applied to the interpretation of the first year of monitoring at Mountsorrel. Future Monitoring.…”

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Humphries¹,

Delmer²,

Hopkins³

2019

JASMR

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The translocation of wildlife habitats remains controversial in the UK and as a last resort where prime ecosystems are involved. None is more contentious as those for woodland designated as 'ancient semi-natural woodland' (i.e., have been in situ for some 400 years or more). There are very few accessible and informative first-hand reports of woodland translocation schemes from which to learn. In this paper we discuss the outcomes of the monitoring of vascular plants and invertebrates one year after translocation of part of an ancient semi-natural woodland, following the granting of planning consent to extend a nationally important aggregate resource. The monitoring in the first year following translocation has been of particular importance as it identified that the representative species, which are needed to re-establish and develop into similar woodland communities to those of the donor, are present. It demonstrates that the physical translocation of the 'whole woodland' vascular plant assemblage is more feasible than previously canvassed, and something that is equivalent to familiar woodland practices of clear-felling operations or coppice rotations. It also determined the need and focus for the proactive control of invasive species that will be needed to achieve the longer-term objective in the vicinity of both the donor woodland and the receptor site, prior to, during and after translocation. The findings are timely and of relevance, beyond the mineral extraction industry, to infrastructure and other built developments involving important woodland ecosystems.

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Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Monitoring and Its Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Humphries¹,

Delmer²,

Hopkins³

2019

JASMR

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“…This study clearly shows the wide diversity of the soils that have been deposited or have according to the different types of exploitation and rehabilitation been undertaken formerly. If the positive impact of the diversity of certain modes of quarrying have already been demonstrated with regard to the flora (Chenot et al, 2017;Craig et al, 2015;Prach et al, 2013;Vécrin and Muller, 2003), and the fauna (Adamopoulou and Legakis, 2006), few studies have focused on the impact on the diversity of the soils developed relative to the original situation (Jarvis and Walton, 2012). Thirty years after the rehabilitation process, the reconstituted Technosols present little significant difference with the reference steppe, whatever the physical or chemical parameter measured.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of quarry exploitation and disuse on pedogenesis

Chenot

Jaunatre

Buisson

et al. 2018

CATENA

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Quarrying represents one of the oldest and most important human activities; the impacts of which have largely influenced vegetation and landscape. Despite its character as a vital and non-renewable resource, the soil has been poorly studied with regard to either the impact resulting from the exploitation of quarries or its restoration after exploitation. In the plain of La Crau (south-eastern France), numerous dry alluvial quarries were exploited in the 1970s. Their exploitation lasted about ten years and they were then rapidly abandoned. At that time, there was no legal obligation to restore sites after their abandonment. In this context, following various modes of exploitation (e.g. exploitation depth), various rehabilitation options were implemented: no rehabilitation, topsoil transfer, deposits of anthropogenic materials. The absence of legislation consequently resulted in heterogeneous areas after their abandonment. Today, we have the benefit of 35 years of hindsight on the dynamics of these ecosystems resulting from these exploitation modes and rehabilitation options and thus various questions arise: (1) Did the diversity of the modes of exploitation result in heterogeneous soils 30 years after abandonment? (2) At what stage of pedogenesis are the soils created in the abandoned quarries? (3) Did the various rehabilitation options have an impact on the traces of biological activity in the soils of the quarries? (4) Is it possible to identify methods of rehabilitation of quarries that would favour the rehabilitation of the soils and the recolonisation of the plant cover in order to improve the techniques in use or to propose alternative methods? The study of soil profiles (with a special focus on biological activity of animals and plants) and soil physico-chemical analyses (pH, CaCO 3 , C, N, C:N ratio, CEC, exchangeable K + , plant available P and fine soil particle contents) made it possible to study these questions. Our results confirm that all the soils resulting from the former exploitation modes and rehabilitation options of the quarries present their own specific characteristics (upper soil layer fertility, soil profile vertical organization) which remain very different, even after 30 years, from the characteristics of the destroyed reference soil ecosystem. Pedogenetic processes are very slow or even blocked by the recurrent action of certain environmental parameters. In terms of ecological rehabilitation, only topsoil transfers undertaken under good conditions (same soil thickness as the reference steppe and no contact with the phreatic zone) have allowed to restore most of the physical and chemical properties recorded close to the reference ecosystem soil.

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‘Can't see the forest for the trees’: The importance of fungi in the context of UK tree planting

Baird

Pope

2022

Food and Energy Security

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Responses of an ancient woodland field layer to soil translocation: methods and timing

Cited by 9 publications

References 44 publications

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Impact of quarry exploitation and disuse on pedogenesis

‘Can't see the forest for the trees’: The importance of fungi in the context of UK tree planting

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