The effects of management on the ground flora of ancient woodland, Brigsteer Park Wood, Cumbria, England

Data from 50 permanent 4 m² quadrats are used to describe changes in the ground flora of an ancient deciduous woodland in response to silvicultural management over an 18 year period. In areas undisturbed since 1969, percentage cover increased due to increased openness of the canopy, but decreased in areas subject to major disturbance due to subsequent canopy closure. Species ‘lost’ altogether from the quadrats in 1969–1987 were largely ruderal and grassland species. Most losses from individual quadrats were also from these species groups and of tree and shrub seedlings and saplings. Species characteristic of woodland shade were little affected by losses or gains.

Changes in the cover of ten abundant shade-tolerant species amplified this picture. Anemone nemorosa and Mercurialis perennis both showed a significant overall increase in mean percentage cover, and an increase in four and two plot groups, respectively. Rubus fruticosus decreased significantly overall, and in all but one of the plot groups. All the other species showed no overall significant change in mean percentage cover, but between one and four significant changes in the plot groups.

Shoot counts of Narcissus pseudonarcissus showed important changes which did not show up in the percentage cover results. Overall, from 1973, there was about a 4% year⁻¹ exponential decline in shoot numbers. Half of the eight plot groups followed this trend. In the one coppiced site, however, shoot numbers increased throughout most of the period.

Difficulties of interpreting these varied results are discussed but it is concluded that coppicing is likely to be effective in maintaining the existing ground flora in perpetuity.