Future Trees Trust launches the ‘Supersizing Broadleaves‘ project to maximise the potential of broadleaves to establish more quickly. The Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF), Forestry Commission supported project will use genetically diverse seed selected for high growth and form and explore different nursery protocols and silvicultural interventions compared to standard practice. Research will involve field trials and will be guided by a literature review. 

Supersizing Broadleaves is an innovative project investigating seed source, nursery stock production and tree establishment in the UK. It asks, ‘What happens when you take the best seed available, raise it with the best practice for the particular species and site, and establish it in the best possible way?’ 

The project seeks to investigate some of the variables to help trees get established more quickly, and therefore reduce the need for weed control.  Over the next two years, plants will be raised and established in three trials of pedunculate oak, silver birch and sycamore using source identified and qualified material on a range of sites and looked after in different ways.     

In addition to establishing research trials, four monographs (in depth research) for the species being studied, and also wild cherry, Prunus avium, will be produced to help forestry practitioners decide on which species to plant, which nursery production method to use, and which management interventions are needed. 

Jo Clark, Head of research at Future Trees Trust says, “The vast majority of the work for this project will be carried out between November 2023 and February 2024. All the root architecture work will be done, and a detailed report written.  We expect the root architecture to yield useful data pertaining to root structure, especially the number of feeder roots which we hope will elucidate findings on tree performance.”