Vegetation succession on a relocated ancient woodland soil

Abstract

Summary A total of 11 000 m2 of topsoil was moved from an area of ancient woodland on the site of the Channel Tunnel terminal near Folkestone, Kent, to a prepared receptor site nearby. The site was then overplanted with nursery-grown trees and shrubs, which in turn required weed control maintenance to aid tree establishment. Records of plant species and a study of the soil seedbank were made in the original wood before transference, after which species frequencies on the receptor site were recorded annually for 5 years. The soil seedbank was sampled on two occasions. At the end of the recording period 16 of the original 99 species had not been re-recorded, but 93 additional (mainly mderal) species had been found. Of the remaining original species, several ruderals and some woodland species in the soil seedbank increased, but wetland species tended to decrease. Vegetation composition was affected both by the position of collection from the original wood, and by the maintenance regime adopted. The exercise appears to have been at least partly successful in establishing the original species, and useful experience has been gained.