Vegetation succession following ride edge management in lowland plantations and woods. 1. The influence of site factors and management practices

Abstract

The manipulation of forest vegetation for conservation purposes was investigated in 11 edge management experiments set up in plantations and semi-natural woodlands in southern England. Cutting back trees along the forest edge increased vascular plant species richness in the cleared zone, particularly of cosmopolitan species, and resulted in a consistent zonation of field layer dominants along the relocated edge gradient. By contrast the overall effect of ride aspect on individual species was weak across the range of sites, with only bramble Rubus fruticosus consistently favouring south-facing edges. In the cut zones, vegetation developed rapidly from existing plants, buried seeds and naturally dispersed seed sources. Deer grazing profoundly affected vegetation composition and structure, greatly reducing tree and shrub regeneration. Field layer herbs exposed by canopy removal showed good persistence, but a shift towards a non-woodland, perennial flora was observed towards the end of the recording period. Significant changes through time and across the edge gradient were confirmed using ordination of the whole vegetation data. The implications of edge management practices for conservation are discussed.