Regen or regeneration is the natural process whereby fallen seed germinates, takes root and grows through the leaf litter in a woodland. Most of these self sown seedlings don’t survive as the conditions are not ideal. Under the existing canopy the light and rain water can be restricted, but the most likely cause for their demise is that they are grazed off by the deer or grubbed up by badgers.
The one place in Pop’s wood where these threats have been managed is the small nursey/compound I built to protect the hazel coppice.
As can be seen within the picture above, there are numerous hornbeam saplings just starting to emerge. These are not easy to grow and so it is doubly pleasing to see them survive and thrive. The fencing gives the seeds chance to germinate and get established without being eaten. Hopefully these will go onto develop into strong enough saplings to be transplanted into permanent positions within the wood.
Encouraged by what I had found in the compound I went on an exploratory search through Pop’s Wood last week in search of some further regen. Sadly a fairly thorough walk through was fruitless, it showed that virtually nothing that had survived either the ravages of the deer or the stresses of the summer drought. However, closer inspection and looking in seemingly unlikely places revealed some small successes.
Under a pile of small branches (brash) from an old cherry plum tree was a small green tree shoot. Closer inspection revealed another hornbeam seedling.
Of course having removed the brash I have taken away the very thing that was protecting the seedling and left them exposed. I quickly erected a simple fence around what turned out to be three seedlings, this should offer refuge from the deer and badgers.
One of the strengths of regeneration is that the seeds that survive are ones that are “happy” growing in that situation ie the conditions suit it and by dint of their germination and development are suited to that location. The other clear advantage is that they are of known provenance for Pop’s Wood having regrown from trees within Pop’s Wood itself. This is not absolutely critical as bought in trees can be selected for their provenance and suitability but having them grown where they fall saves a lot of faffing around. One further massive upside is that they are FREE! No cost to buy them in or time taken to replant them and nurse them along, they simply appear. Wonderful.
Just to prove that other species are just as capable of regeneration, the picture below shows a turkey oak sapling which I found in the middle of a bramble thicket.
Again the brambles had acted as a protective barrier allowing the seed, an acorn in this instance, to germinate and develop into a healthy sapling. The key in all this is offering the seeds the chance to develop without either being grubbed up by badgers, dug up by squirrels and birds or being grazed by deer. Quite a list of threats that makes the finding of successful regeneration so satisfying.
One of the projects for the autumn is to create a further purpose built nursey and plant some seeds and carry out some soft wood cuttings of hazel over the winter and into next year. The hazel will be particularly useful in the coming years in re-establishing the stool densities within the coppiced coupes the first of which is due to be created later this year.
More next time…………………….
Tim Burr 