The role of buried seed in coppicewoods

The ancient coppicewoods of eastern England have high conservation value when managed as such, but neglect leads to loss of species from the vegetation. The present paper reports a study of the potential for vegetational recovery which is conferred by the presence of dormant buried seeds in neglected coppices. These seed-banks are discussed both in relation to the pattern of floristic change in the coppice cycle, and to the conservation of the coppicewood flora.It is shown that many of the coppicewood plants are present as buried seed though absent from the vegetation, especially the light-demanding ‘marginal’ species which normally reappear after each coppicing in the managed system.Very few species of the deep shade are present as seed, however, and because such species also tend to have poor dispersive powers, it is suggested that they are more vulnerable than the marginal flora to any extreme management changes which might lead to their complete disappearance from the vegetation.