Silviculture of hardwoods in Great Britain

Many changes have occurred over the last 70 years: broadleavesno longer exceed conifers in area and coppice has declined markedly.While we see many neglected woods, especially on farms, thedepressingly poor quality of muchoak which Guillebaud lamentsis not now viewed so seriously. Today, broadleaves are grownfor a wider variety of objectives and not just for fine timber.While excellent stem form remains highly desirable, achievingit is notso critical where amenity, conservation or landscapeobjectives are uppermost. A major advance since Guillebaud's time is more rapid establishmentowing to herbicides and tree shelters though we still plantbroadleaves too far apart. Natural regeneration is again beingencouraged but we now have to add grey squirrels and muntjacdeer causing severe depredations besides the animals Guillebaudlisted. Broadleaves have a much more favourable press today becausethey are favoured for many more uses than simply timber production.This shift is the greatest contrast with 70 years ago and thegreatest influence on what silvicultural practices to adopt.