Completed Projects
This section provides updates on completed reports from projects supported by the Trust.
Maximum Density - Size Relationships for Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir
This project describes work carried out by Phil Comeau, the SFT Fellowship Award winner of 2008. Maximum density–size relationships presented in the paper can be used as a starting point for managing stand density for both even-aged and continuous cover stands and for identifying potential maximum stocking in stands of these species in GB and Canada. The full open access paper can be found here.
Cashel - The Forest for a Thousand Years
The RSFS Forest Trust Company have just completed a report on the progress made over the first ten years of the native forest project at Cashel. Included in the report, is a management plan for the next ten years.
The production of the report was assisted by the Scottish Forestry Trust and is available to read or download here.
The Effects of Transformation of Even Aged Stands to Continuous Cover Forestry on Conifer Log Quality and Wood Properties in the UK
This report, financially supported by the Scottish Forestry Trust has recently been published and is accessible from in abstract form here and is available in full for purchase or through subscription from Oxford Journals.
Validation of a Stem Straightness Scoring System for Sitka Spruce
This report, financially supported by the Scottish Forestry Trust has recently been published and is accessible from in abstract form here and is available in full for purchase or through subscription from Oxford Journals.
Volunteering in Woodlands - Motivations and Barriers
This project focused on practical environmental volunteering to explore what motivates people to become involved in practical volunteering work, what benefits they gain from their involvement and are there any potential barriers to getting or staying involved. The Trust provided financial support to the project which was completed in 2008. You can find out more information on the project here.
A recent abstract article on this project is available here or contact Liz O'Brien for further information.
Genetic Heritability of Wood Properties of Sitka Spruce Critical to Timber Strength (University of Aberdeen).
In this study timber stiffness was found to be mainly determined by microfibril angle and wood density. With increasing growth rate, wood density generally decreases however there is little correlation between growth rate and microfibril angle. The moderate heritability of microfibril angle should enable gains in wood stiffness to be achieved without compromising growth rate.
Timber Quality Model for Scots Pine (University of Aberdeen).
The objective of this project is to develop a model to predict the effects of silviculture on Scots pine and to use the model to improve the accuracy and applicability of field stem-quality assessments. Student, Dave Auty was awarded the Scottish Woodlands Student Excellence Award for his work on the project, the Press Release for which is available here
Testing the Adaptive Significance of Seed Zones in Scots Pine (University of Edinburgh).
This project, supported by the Trust, will use a combination of molecular markers and growth experiments to assess the effectiveness of designated seed zones in Scots pine for the conservation of adaptive variation. The research concluded that there is strong evidence for genetic variation among native Scots pine populations in Scotland in terms of phenology and response to low winter temperature and drought. Publication details will be made available shortly.
Documentary - “Finding David Douglas” (Forestry Commission)
The Trust made a contribution towards the costs of researching and filming an educational documentary programme on the life and work of David Douglas, botanist and explorer who travelled extensively to bring back new plant species to Scotland, including the Douglas Fir. A link to further information about this project is available here
Retaining timber potential following PAWS restoration - Scott McG Wilson
Twenty-seven case-studies highlighted approaches including reduction of coniferous canopy density by regeneration thinning, respacing of natural hardwood/ mixed regeneration, enrichment planting, and tending of young hardwoods (brashing, pruning, thinning). Retained timber potential can be found on all ownership classes. Many successful examples involved “traditional estate” forestry and “continuous-cover” forestry techniques with regular monitoring and interventions. Improved woodfuel prices support earlier respacing/ thinning of hardwoods. Financial considerations, stand instability/ windthrow hazard and perceived biodiversity/ conservation constraints impede retention of timber potential on PAWS restoration/ enhancement sites in some cases, favouring clearfell/ restock working. However the predominant limiting factor is the shortage (and perceived decline) of the practical forestry skills and experience that are necessary to optimise timber potential. Effective enabling actions are likely to include simplification/ relaxation of PAWS restoration prescriptions, under-pinning of the forestry training infrastructure and encouragement of technical information exchange. The insights reported will inform the latter angle.
The full project report is available here and further information and details of the site reports can be obtained directly from the author Scott Wilson scottmcgwilson(at)hotmail.com.
Publications
A reference list showing the latest list of publications produced from Scottish Forestry Trust supported Projects over the years, is available here