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Scotland's Native Trees and Shrubs
Criteria necessary for successful colonisation by natural seed dispersal
There is no simple prescription for success. Experience of natural colonisation as a positive landscape design tool is limited. The general principles to allow identification of suitable sites will include the following:
- naturally well-drained soil (sand, gravel, glacial tills, or disturbed soils) which support non-competitive herbaceous vegetation
- the presence of parent seed-bearing trees close to the site capable of dispersing seed at the time the ground is in a suitable condition to receive it
- where the site is open to browsing animals, resources must be available to erect and maintain a suitable protective fence, ideally for five to 15 years
Deer fencing within the Rothiemurchus Caledonian pine forest to prevent browsing and allow natural characteristics to develop. The coloured bands can be intrusive but are necessary to prevent bird strike particularly by Capercaillie, Britain's largest game bird.
In open countryside an electric fence (wind powered in this situation) may be more appropriate.
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