Suitability of plants for particular conditions
Tree species should be chosen to suit the location, site and soil, rather than trying to alter site conditions to suit a particular species.
Glorious Woodlands will conduct soil analysis during stage 2 of creating your woodland. From this, we will recommend the right species for your woodland.
Wet conditions
Areas which are subject to waterlogging may prevent tree roots functioning. Glorious Woodlands recommends, alder (Alnus) because it is suitable for permanently waterlogged areas. Other species suitable for wet sites are: ash (Fraxinus excelsior), aspen (Populus tremula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), bird cherry (Prunus padus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), black poplar (Populus nigra) and willows (Salix).
Dry conditions
Native trees for dry woodland areas which have a lack of essential water include: ash (Fraxinus excelsior), beech (Fagus sylvatica), silver birch (Betula pendula), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), hawthorn (Crataegus), juniper (Juniperus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), whitebeam (Sorbus) and yew.
High altitude
If your woodland is built on a high altitude area with cold wind and a shorter growing season, it is likely that the trees will be subject to frost and high winds. Native trees for these conditions include: alder (Alnus), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), downy birch (Betula pubescens), aspen (Populus tremula), bird cherry (Prunus padus) (if sheltered), holly (Ilex), juniper (Juniperus), pedunculate (Quercus robur), oak (Quercus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia).
Frosty areas
Native trees for areas susceptible to frost are: ash (Fraxinus excelsior), downy birch (Betula pubescens), silver birch (Betula pendula), bird cherry (Prunus padus), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), juniper (Juniperus) and scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).
Windy areas
Native trees for areas with an exposure to wind are: ash (Fraxinus excelsior), aspen (Populus tremula), beech (Fagus sylvatica), downy birch (Betula pubescens), silver birch (Betula pendula), hawthorn (Crataegus), juniper (Juniperus), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), whitebeam (Sorbus), willows (Salix) and yew.
Close to the sea
Some areas of Sussex are near to the sea, this can cause high winds and salty winds. Native trees for these conditions include: ash (Fraxinus excelsior), aspen (Populus tremula), hawthorn (Crataegus), holly (Ilex), juniper (Juniperus), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), whitlebeam (Sorbus), willows (Salix).
Lime-rich soils
If your woodland site is on lime-rich soils, we recommend the following native trees species: ash (Fraxinus excelsior), beech (Fagus sylvatica), box (Buxus sempervirens), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), wild cherry (Prunus avium), hawthorn (Crataegus), holly (Ilex), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), juniper (Juniperus), large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), field maple (Acer campestre), whitebeam (Sorbus) and yew.
Wet and acidic soils
Alternatively, if your woodland site is on acidic soil which is wet, appropriate native trees are: alder, ash (Fraxinus excelsior), aspen (Populus tremula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), bird cherry (Prunus padus), pedunculate, oak (Quercus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). Whereas for dry areas, native trees are ash (Fraxinus excelsior), beech (Fagus sylvatica), silver birch (Betula pendula), hawthorn (Crataegus), holly (Ilex), juniper (Juniperus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), whitebeam (Sorbus) and goat willow (Salix caprea).
(Woodland Trust)
Trees and shrubs for clay soils
Trees for clay soil are: field maple (Acer campestre), norway maple (Acer platanoides), sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), italian alder (Alnus cordata), common alder (Alnus glutinosa), grey alder (Alnus incana), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), holly (Ilex aquifolium), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), poplar (Populus), wild cherry (Prunus avium), cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), bird cherry (Prunus padus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), english oak (Quercus robur), red oak (Quercus rubra), willow (Salix), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), small leaved lime (Tilia cordata), large leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana), noble fir (Abie procera), larch (Larix), pine (Pinus) and english yew (Taxus baccata).
Shrubs for clay soil include: Berberis thunbergii, dogwood (Cornus), hazel (Corylus avellana), Cotoneaster franchetii, Cotoneaster simonsii, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), boxleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), privet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata), common laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), rose (Rosa), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).
Trees and shrubs for light soils
Trees for light soils are: field maple (Acer campestre), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), holly (Ilex aquifolium), walnut (Juglans regia), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), aspen (Populus tremula), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), european larch (Larix decidua), pine (Pinus) and english yew (Taxus baccata).
Shrubs for light soils are: common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), hazel (Corylus avellana), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), spindleberry (Euonymus europaeus), common privet (Ligustrum vulgare), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), dog rose (Rosa canina) and wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana).
Trees and shrubs for chalk soils
Trees for chalk soils include: field maple (Acer campestre), norway maple (Acer platanoides), sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), holly (Ilex aquifolium), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), white poplar (Populus alba), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), small leaved lime (Tilia cordata), large leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), wych elm (Ulmus glabra), austrian pine (Pinus nigra) and english yew (Taxus baccata).
Shrubs for chalk soil include: Berberis, common box (Buxus sempervirens), Cotoneaster, spindleberry (Euonymus europaeus), common privet (Ligustrum vulgare), boxleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus).
Trees and shrubs for wet soils
Trees for wet soils are: italian alder (Alnus cordata), common alder (Alnus glutinosa), grey alder (Alnus incana), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), poplar (Populus), english oak (Quercus robur), willow (Salix), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).
Shrubs for wet soils are: red barked dogwood (Cornus alba), hazel (Corylus avellana), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), goat willow (Salix caprea), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).
Trees and shrubs for coastal sites
Trees for coastal sites are: norway maple (Acer platanoides), sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), holly (Ilex aquifolium), white polar (Populus alba), grey poplar (Populus canescens), lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’), aspen (Populus tremula), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), english oak (Quercus robur), willow (Salix), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), wych elm (Ulmus glabra), austrian pine (Pinus nigra) and corsican pine (Pinus nigra maritima).
Shrubs for coastal sites include: Cotoneaster franchetii, Cotoneaster simonosii, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), pivet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), rose (Rosa), grey willow (Salix cinerea), purple osier (Salix purpurea), common osier (Salix viminalis), wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).
Trees and shrubs for exposed sites
Trees for exposed sites are: field maple (Acer campestre), norway maple (Acer platanoides), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), aspen (Populus tremula), wild cherry (Prunus avium), english oak (Quercus robur), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), small leaved lime (Tilia cordata), wych elm (Ulmus glabra), european larch (Larix decidua), norway spruce (Picea abies), austrian pine (Pinus nigra), corscian pine (Pinus nigra maritima), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and english yew (Taxus baccata).
Shrubs for exposed sites are: red barked dogwood (Cornus alba), hazel (Corylus avellana), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), common privet (Ligustrum vulgare), pivet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), dog rose (Rosa canina), grey willow (Salix cinerea), purple osier (Salix purpurea), common osier (Salix viminalis) and gudelfer rose (Viburnum opulus).
Trees and shrubs that are fast growing
Trees that are fast growing are: norway maple (Acer platanoides), sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), poplar (Populus), red oak (Quercus rubra), lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), norway spruce (Picea abies), serbian spruce (Picea omorika), stika spruce (Picea sitchensis), austrian pine (Pinus nigra), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
Shrubs that are fast growing include: Berberis, dogwood (Cornus), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), common laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), grey willow (Salix cinerea), purple osier (Salix purpurea), common osier (Salix viminalis) and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).
(British Hardwood)
