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This glamourous beast is my new hedge nursery! I collect seeds from local trees, grow new hedge plants.
They are free!
No transport, so reduced risk of disease
Locally suited
Most importantly:
They retain the natural genetic diversity, & local genetic heritage.
Why?
They are free!No transport, so reduced risk of diseaseLocally suitedMost importantly:
They retain the natural genetic diversity, & local genetic heritage.Why?
Like us, trees differ between individuals, much of this comes from diversity in their genes
Diversity makes some trees better able to cope with certain stresses than others
One may b more drought tolerant, flood tolerant, or more able to cope with pests or diseases than another
Diversity makes some trees better able to cope with certain stresses than others
One may b more drought tolerant, flood tolerant, or more able to cope with pests or diseases than another
These helpful traits won't be all in one individual, but spread over the tree population.
This genetic diversity is a tree species' naturally evolved survival strategy, and has got them through many a crisis before.
We know they will need it again now.
This genetic diversity is a tree species' naturally evolved survival strategy, and has got them through many a crisis before.
We know they will need it again now.
We don't know *all* the problems trees will face in the future. We know some but there will inevitably be more
So we need to save as much of a tree populations natural diversity as possible to give them the best chance at long term survival. This is their best defence.
So we need to save as much of a tree populations natural diversity as possible to give them the best chance at long term survival. This is their best defence.
The best way to maintain genetic diversity within tree populations is to ditch tree planting in favour of natural regeneration
Let trees make their own new trees!
Where not possible, we can collect wild seed locally from as many plants as possible https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/restore-uk-woodland-trees-report-rewilding-britain
Let trees make their own new trees!
Where not possible, we can collect wild seed locally from as many plants as possible https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/restore-uk-woodland-trees-report-rewilding-britain
This can be better than buying trees, which have all come from a much more limited gene pool, & likely not local to you.
If we only planted trees from limited stock, our future tree populations would be very vulnerable!
If we only planted trees from limited stock, our future tree populations would be very vulnerable!
In my bath-nursery, I have hawthorn, acorns, damsons, beech & lots more I found locally
The plants are destined to fill in some of the gaps in my hedges, and leftovers will be offered to other local landowners to do the same.
It's easy, it's fun, &may help save the trees!
The plants are destined to fill in some of the gaps in my hedges, and leftovers will be offered to other local landowners to do the same.
It's easy, it's fun, &may help save the trees!
n.b. try to collect from the oldest trees you can find. In the late 1990s/early 2000s we were doing a fantastic job planting new hedges. But 80% of planted hawthorns were imported from central Europe. Among other things, these flower and fruit at slightly different times
