Bringing Home the Ashes
Project Data
Location
South / South West, UK
Client Type
Research Institute
Working with the Centre of Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), we helped refine, develop and deliver woodland monitoring surveys across south and south-west England to continue long-term monitoring (first started by the late Prof. Bob Bunce in the 1970s). This makes it one of the longest running woodland vegetation monitoring surveys in the world. It was an honour to help add to this incredible dataset in an age when our woodlands see ever increasing threats from climate breakdown & disease.Â
Methods
Step 01
Refinement
Meeting with CEH, we spent a day testing and trialing the survey methods, ensuring consistency between geographically distant surveyors.
STEP 02
Data Gathering
From the hills of Dartmoor to the South Downs, we surveyed many woodlands for their health and vigour - especially in relation to ash regeneration.
STEP 03
Analysis
Spatial data and photography (gathered through mobile GIS enabled systems) was submitted to CEH for inclusion in their wider spatial analysis and research report.
Outcomes
The project is ongoing and the final results will be published by CEH in due course.
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We successfully completed monitoring surveys across all of our woodland sites within the required timescales and within the agreed budget. It is hoped that the data gathered will provide fresh insights into ash regeneration to increase the reslience of our native woodlands.
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I contracted Pete to work on a project led by UKCEH and John Innes Centre and funded by Defra. The aim was to record data that would enable identification of factors that could be managed to promote turnover in ash trees and hence potentially fix resistance to Dieback more quickly into populations. Pete helped co-develop the field methods and then applied them to a number of woodland sites, locating the plots using hi-res GPS and recording all the attributes needed for our analysis. I was completely satisfied and will look to invite Pete to work for us again on similar research projects when they arise.
Pete’s work is of an exceptionally high standard. Not only has his expertise been invaluable to our projects, but his positive attitude and collaborative approach have made him a pleasure to work with. We would not hesitate to recommend Pete for future projects.
Senior Research Scientist & Honorary Professor
Dr. Simon Smart