The Forest of Dean oaks

A remnant of the Dean's 19th C oak plantations

The quality of oak grown and outsize timber supplied from the Dean was a constant theme in historic woodland literature, Evelyn in his discourse on trees in 1662, mentioned its renown and the Royal Navy made extensive use of its timber. In 2015 the Forestry Commission published a research report Shake in oak : an evidence review that sheds some light on why the Forest of Dean had a reputation for the production of high grade naval timber. Woodland soil and lithology can influence the potential for timber shake. The tables below are observations made during the extensive felling of oak during World War II.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCRP024.pdf/$file/FCRP024.pdf

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCRP024.pdf/$file/FCRP024.pdf

The Forest of Dean geology is Carboniferous Coal Measures, with underlying limestones and Devonian sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. The structure is a raised synclinal basin and all the aforementioned geology outcrops in the Dean, exposure of the coal measures form a significant exposure.The superficial deposits comprise head, colluvium and fluvial. The Dean is noted for its cold microclimate and prevalence for severe frost.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCIN077.pdf/$FILE/FCIN077.pdf

Forestry Commission provenance trials of native and european oaks also highlighted another quality of the Dean; its capacity to grow timber slowly. Slow growth equates to a closer grain and a harder more durable timber, a desirable quality in a naval timber.

In 1852 and 1853, 100's of acres of oaks in Russells and Churchill enclosures, planted in the late 17th century were felled in the Dean, the size and fine quality of the timber again noted and supplied to the Royal Navy. Yet less than a century later the Dean had a reputation for poor quality oak timber :

One of the most notorious regions in Britain for shaken oak is the Forest of Dean, the cause being attributed frequently to drainage and disturbance from mining activities. However, the areas of mining activity do not always correspond to the areas of shaken oak and it is more likely that the shallowness of the soils which Day and Peace (1947) cited as the cause of low vigour, poor growth, and susceptibility to pathogens in the Dean oak, is a contributory factor

In 1904, the renowned forestry expert Sir William Schlich, had this to say about those very same oak plantations in the Forest of Dean :

Some wiseacre have of late been writing about 'The New Forestry'. Alas! it seems to me what is really wanted is to return to 'The Old Forestry', and to eliminate as quickly as possible the errors introduced into British Forestry by the nineteenth century forest experts. These gentlemen were in too much of a hurry. 'Quick returns regardless of consequences' was their maxim, and now they have almost ruined national property of an enormous value, inasmuch as they have considerably reduced the fertility,or yield capacity of the soil. 

The research report also states that there are other factors that can predispose an oak tree to shake susceptibility and a number of trigger factors.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCRP024.pdf/$file/FCRP024.pdf

The following is a timeline of events in the Dean through the 19th Century and is mainly drawn from the historian Dr Cyril Hart books: The Forest of Dean, New History 1550-1818 (1995) and Royal Forest: A History of Dean's Woods as Producers of Timber (1966) and the writings of the superintendent of the oak plantations 1810-1818. When compared with the events for acquired disposition of oaks to shake susceptibility and triggers effects it might explain the poor reputation of Deans 19th C oak plantations.

1802 Lord Nelson visited the Dean and wrote the following memorandum :

The Forest of Dean contains about 23,000 acres of the finest Land in the Kingdom, which I am informed, if in high cultivation of Oak, would produce about 9200 loads of timber fit for building Ships of the Line every year; that is, the Forest would grow in full vigour 920,000 trees. 

The State of the Forest at this moment is deplorable, for if my information is true there is not 3500 Load of Timber in the whole forest fit for building and now coming forward. It is useless, I admit, to state the causes of such a want of Timber where so much could be produced, except that by knowing the faults we may be better enabled to amend ourselves. 

First, the generality of trees for these last fifty years have been allowed to stand too long. They are passed by instead of removed and thus occupy a space, which ought to have been replanted with young trees. 

Secondly, that were good timber felled, nothing is planted and nothing can grow self sown for the Deer (of which now only a few remain) bark all the young trees. Vast droves of Hogs are allowed to go into the Woods in the Autumn, and if any fortunate acorn escapes their Search and takes root, then the Flocks of sheep are allowed to go into the Forest and they bite off the tender shoot. These are sufficient reasons why Timber does not grow in the Forest Of Dean. 

Of the Waste of Timber in former times I can say nothing but of late years it has been, I am told, shameful. Trees cut down in Swampy places, as the carriage is done by contract, are left to rot and are cut up by people in the Neighbourhood. Another abuse is the Contractors, as they can carry more measurement, are allowed to cut the trees to their advantage of carriage by which means the invaluable Crooked timber is lost for the Service of the Navy. These are also another cause of the failure of timber: a set of people called the forest-free miners, who consider themselves as having the right to dig for Coal in any part they please. These people in many places enclose pieces of ground, which is daily increased by the inattention, to call it by no worse name, of the Surveyors, Verderers etc.. who have the charge of the Forest. 

Of Late Years some apparently Vigorous measures were taken for preserving and encouraging the growth of Timber in the King’s Forest and part of the Forest Of Dean has been enclosed, but it is so ill attended and that it is little if anything better than the other part. There is another abuse which I omitted to mention – Trees which die of themselves and are considered as of no value. A gentleman told me that in shooting on foot, for on Horseback it cannot be seen hid by the fern which grows to a great height, the Trees of 50 years growth fit for building, fencing etc is cut just above the ground entirely through the Bark in two years. The trees dies and it becomes either a perquisite or is allowed to be taken away by favoured people. 

These shameful abuses are probably known to those high in power but I have gathered the information of these from people of all descriptions and perfectly disinterested in telling me or knowing that I had any View in a transient enquiry. But knowing the abuses it is for serious consideration of every lover of his Country how they can either be done away or at least lessened – perhaps a very difficult or impossible task. 

If the Forest of Dean is to be preserved as a useful Forest for the Country, strong means must be pursued. 1st: the Guardian of the support of our Navy must be an Intelligent and Honest Man who will give up his time to his Employment. Therefore he must live in the Forest and have a House, small farm and an adequate Salary. I omitted to mention that the expense of the Surveyor of the Woods, as far as relates to this Forest, to be done away; Verderer as at present, also the Guardian to have proper Verderers under him who understand the planting, thinning and management of Timber trees. These places should be so comfortable that the fear of being turned out should be a great Object of terror and of course an inducement for them to exert themselves in their different stations. 

The first thing necessary in the Forest of Dean is to plant some acres of acorns and I saw plenty of Clear fields with Cattle grazing in my Voyage down the Wye. In two years these will be fit for transplanting. NB: I am aware that Objections have been made to the transplanting of Oak. I am not knowing enough in this matter to say how far this is true when so young as 2 to 5 or 6 years. The next thing is to be careful to thin the trees for more timber is lost by being too fearful of cutting down than by boldly thinning. A Tree from 10 years of age ought by a scale given to me by a very able man, to be as follows viz: Number of Trees that such land as the Forests of Dean may contain at different periods from their first being set.

 

In forty years these forests will produce a great Value of timber fit for many uses in the Navy indeed except for Ships of the Line.

If on due consideration it is found not to be practicable for Government to arrange a plan for growing their Own Timber, then I would recommend at once selling the Forests and encourage the Growth of Oak Timber. I calculate that taking away the 3500 Load of timber at present fit for cutting (or be it more or less) than the Forest of Dean will sell for £460,000. I am sensible that what I have thrown together upon paper is so loose that no plan can be drawn from it, but if these facts which I have learnt from my late tour may be in the least instrumental in benefiting our Country I shall be truly happy. 

After thoughts on encouraging the growth of Oak Timber drawn from my conversations with many gentlemen in my late tour: 1st: the reason why Timber has of late years been so much reduced has been uniformly told me that from the pressure of the times gentlemen who had £1000 to five worth of timber on their estates, although only half grown (say 50 years of age), were obliged to sell it to raise temporary Sums (say to pay off Legacy). The Owner cannot, however sorry he may feel to see the beauty of his place destroyed and what would treble the value to his Children annihilated, help himself. It has struck me forcibly that if Government could form a plan to purchase of such a Gentlemen the growing Oak that it would be a national benefit and a great and pleasing accommodation to such growers of Oak as wish to sell. My knowledge of this subject drawn from the conversation of gentlemen in the oak Countries I think would almost obviate all difficulties. Of my self I own my incompetence to draw up a plan fit for public inspection, but all my gathered knowledge shall be most cheerfully at the service of some able man.”

1803 A new youthful Deputy Surveyor of the Dean, succeeded his father. In the events that unfolded it is doubtful this appointment would have satisfied Lord Nelson's request for an Intelligent and Honest Man who will give up his time to his Employment.

1808 The Dean Forest Act was passed by Parliament. An Act for the Increase and Preservation of Timber in Dean Forests. Or the statutory enclosure at any one time of 11,000 acres of the Dean and the enclosure only opened when grazing herbivores could cause no damage to the trees within. The Surveyor General of Woods after apparently giving much thought to the issue, decided to adopt modern forestry techniques and the plan was to enclose oak plantations grown from acorns.

1809 The contract was awarded for enclosing and planting the 11,000 acres. Planting commences.

1810  It is not recorded how many knowledgeable foresters declined the opportunity of superintending the afforestation of Britain's premiere oak forest with plantations raised from acorns. The General Surveyor of the Woods, employed a nurseryman, with an interest in trees, from Lincolnshire to superintend the work.

1810-1812 The initial years were spent feeding the resident populations of mice, voles, Jays, Wood pigeons and rooks, premium grade acorns. The seedlings that did grow soon died. The acorn planting approach was eventually declared a failure. The plan of raising a forest of oak from acorns in plantations had started to unravel.

1814 A new General Surveyor of the Woods is appointed.

1812-1816 A new plan was implemented whereby oak saplings would be planted instead. The resident mice population ring barked and killed the saplings. At some expense the resident mice population was reduced to a level that posed no threat to the saplings. Many saplings were devastated by frost.
Transplanting older saplings was also tried and eventually a formative pruning technique developed on larger oaks for transplanting. There is no record of provenance for acorns or saplings planted in the Dean in the successive attempts at planting the 11,000 acres.
The Deputy Surveyor of the Dean amused himself along with the local sporting gentry by hunting hares, rabbits and deer, on horseback in the enclosures causing much damage to the saplings apparently. The General Surveyor of the Woods authorised that all deer to be 'banished' from the enclosures.
Exotic conifers were also used as nurse trees to the plantation oaks and appeared to grow rather well in comparison.

By 1816 9,289 acres enclosed and planted. Expenditure on the plantations to date £59,172.5s.10d about £6.6s.8d per acre.

1817 Perhaps all too aware of the prospects for the oak plantations achieving Naval grade timber quality, thousands of acres of privately owned, traditionally managed oak woodland adjacent to the Forest of Dean were purchased.

1818 At great expense to the Crown the contract for enclosing and planting the Dean was completed. Much silviculture remained to be done; failures not attributable to the contractors had to be made good. The superintendent in charge was reassigned to planting a 900 acre wood in County Durham. The Deputy Surveyor of the Dean took over the management of the oak plantations.

1819 The severity of frost killed many saplings.

1821 In a commissioner's report to fill in gaps in the enclosure 2,985,000 saplings were needed.

1823 it was reported that many oaks were again defoliated by Oak Leaf Roller Moth caterpillars.

1825 The superintendent in charge of the planting the plantations published a book on his practical experiences in the planting of oaks and acorns in the Dean. The book generated some controversy amongst middle aged foresters and over the next 5 years a pissing contest developed as quill was put to parchment.

1830  The superintendent in charge of the planting the Dean 1810-1818 interjected into the ongoing acrimonious discussion amongst titled gentry on the best approach for growing oak trees for Naval Timber, by recalling that when consulting with the locals, that Sessile oak were the trees in the Dean that produced the best timber. The Dean had been planted with English and Sessile oak saplings. This was almost heresy as it appears the English oak (Q. robur) (Anglo Saxon) had long been advocated as the preeminent timber tree, the Sessile oak (Q. petraea) that grew in the highland areas in the west and north of Britain (Celtic) as inferior stuff. The ante was ratcheted to a new level, with reputations and national pride at stake. The two oaks hybridise quite freely, which added another layer of complexity and fuel to already heated debates.

1831 Thinning of the plantations. The commoners rioted, threw open the enclosures and let their animals in to graze. The riot act was read, armed militia called for, arrests made and deportations made to Tasmania. The enclosures were made good again.

1841 Some enclosures opened to grazing herbivores.

1852 Commissioners survey report on the plantations were at best damning with faint praise, there was particular criticism that some plantations were over thinned, others mis-managed.

1862 The Battle of Hampton Roads was a fortuitous event as the Royal Navy had no further need for premium grade timber and the intense scrutiny of the oak plantations eased.

In 1893 the Commissioners of the Woods employed a barrister as Deputy Surveyor for the Forest of Dean and with no exposure to modern forestry, the barrister quickly grasped the principles of silviculture, put a stop to the thinning of the oak plantations and underplanted the oak with beech. Interplanting of 2 beech tree which each oak had been the traditional practice in the Dean.

In 1899 there was a particularly good oak mast fall of acorns in the Blakeney Hill Wood North and this area was enclosed and Old Forestry practices employed. The trees selected for harvesting in winter 2013/2014 appeared of good timber quality to a layman's eyes.

Traditionally grown 110 year old oak, Blakeneyhill Wood North, Forest of Dean

The timber demand of WW1 and WW2, meant a large coverage of the early 19th C oak plantations could finally be felled and Modern Forestry could move on from the debacle. Plantations of Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce, Corsican Pine, Larch and other exotic species have prevailed since in the Dean. That is until the early 21st century as the exotic tree plantations in the Dean have or are currently being felled as biosecurity measures due to outbreaks of Phytophthora ramorum and Dothistroma Needle Blight. Diseases that are ravaging great swathes of the UK's commercial forestry plantations, with millions of trees already felled and more to come.

The good news is that the two species of native oaks are resistant to the diseases currently infecting the exotic commercial trees and judging by the research reports and planting guidance into native oaks there is a prospect that native oak will again become an important commercial tree once more in the Dean. Probably Sessile oak (Q. petraea) as the English oak is more susceptible to acute oak decline.

Bluebell woodland landscapes - aesthetics and a philosophy.

Bluebells under a woodland canopy of trees in newly emergent leaves, is one of nature's more appealing floral displays and a challenging one for making an image that does justice to the scene. It is said that there are three types of aesthetic interest in a photograph: composition, the knowledge imparted on the subject and the photograph itself. I'm also tempted to add that the aesthetics of lens bokeh and rendition is the only aesthetic interest for some photographers.

 Mature oak underplanted with oak and beech.

Bluebells are slow colonisers and to establish a bluebell carpet requires time, undisturbed soil and a long period of woodland cover to form the requisite habitat for bluebells to spread and flourish.  This slow colonising rate make bluebells an indicator species for ancient woodland, which is defined as a wood with continuous tree cover since 1600 AD.
It's always interesting and informative viewing other photographers' images of bluebell woodland, noting the preference of woodland type, weather, lighting and seeing how the structure of woodland is incorporated in the composition of a landscape view.

Small leaved lime wood, with coppice shoots and suckers

At one extreme of woodland structure is what I'll term a highly structured or 'architectural' bluebell woodland which manifests itself as plantations of forest broadleaved dominants, grown and managed for prime grade timber. With uniformity of age and close spacing of planting encouraging straight growth, creating distinct verticals. Beech tree plantations form a closed canopy and cast a deep shade that starves the woodland below of light and sterilises the underwood and field layer of any flora that isn't shade tolerant, which in a maturing beech plantation is most flora, even beech saplings and epicormic growth are shaded out. The elimination of competition in the field layer, creates the habitat for bluebells to flourish, which they do with spectacular effect on the right soils.

20thC maturing beech plantation

Maturing beech plantations are a very clean woodland with smooth bark and for a wood on ground with low topographic relief, defined horizontal layering and lends itself to strong graphic compositions, even with the absence of sunlight, there's an inherent depth to a view.
Ecological interest is confined to a narrow range of shade tolerant specialists and what the dormant soil seed bank throws up when the wood is harvested or when the canopy opens up.

 Predominantly mature beech, with ash, underwood and natural regeneration in the field layer.

At the other extreme are unstructured woodlands with a mixture of natural tree species, from veteran trees, snags, derelict coppice to saplings and seedlings, a range of canopy light regimes, a diverse underwood including coppice shoots, varied field and ground layer with wind throw. In this type of woodland, there will be areas of the wood barren of bluebells through to dense bluebell carpets.  There's usually some topographic relief to contend with too, especially on the western side of the UK.
Photographers hoping for ordered verticals and horizontals in their compositions will be frustrated by he level of complexity and compositions will prove unrewarding when viewed retrospectively. There's no real compositional template and it's down to the experience gained from past failure to make a rewarding photograph.
Ecologists tend to use this type of woodland as an exemplar of biodiversity and these woods are owned/managed by Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, RSPB etc

Mixed woodland and boulders 

Since this is a blog post on bluebell woodland photography aesthetics and not a discourse on bluebell woodland types, I'll only add there are a myriad types of bluebell woodland between the extremes of structured/architectural and unstructured/ecological. Generalising and if you prefer photographing  structured/architectural bluebell woods you'll end up visiting Forestry Commission plantation woodland and if you prefer the less structured/ecological woodlands you'll probably be in a nature reserve and whilst a delight to wander around in, it can be challenging to photograph.

A problematic area is wind and its effects with longer exposure times in woodlands on blurred foliage and flowers, raising ISO values and larger apertures to eliminate motion blur of foliage is not as effective as one would think or even desire.  My memory of a visit to a bluebell wood even in a gale, is a snapshot of still flora and not one of motion blurred leaves and flowers, although I'm conscious of the reality of wind and disturbed foliage, the effect of blurred foliage in an image I find aesthetically objectionable. Which doesn't mean abandoning a trip to bluebell woodland if wind is forecast, it means an adjustment to camera/lens settings, seeking out sheltered woods or a sheltered aspect of a wood and patiently waiting for an opportunity between wind gusts. It is worth heading out even in less than desirable weather as peak condition for a bluebell woodland lasts for a matter of days. I have enough experience of bluebell woodland photography to realise how dynamic an environment woodlands are, far more so than many other landscapes and the scene may not be there next year or even for the next decade.

A bluebell wood impacted by mechanised harvesting operations for some years to come

Whilst researching the online archive of articles and discussions on photographing bluebell woodland, I've stumbled upon some interesting commentary on photographing bluebell woods, some of it surprisingly honest in describing the challenges, some of it all so predictable. The issues of polarising filters and colour rendition were expected and easily remedied in the field by removing the filter. Getting bluebell colour right doesn't need advanced photoshop skills, only some thought, careful observation in the field and experience.

19thC oak plantation with emerging bracken

The surprising commentary was from the 'online cognoscenti' bemoaning bluebell woodland photographs 'it's all been done before' 'cliche subject' 'no originality' 'same old, same old' ...   Really?  Now, I've never been tempted to ask anyone to qualify their opinion, but would concede that rocking up at the tripod holed ground of Micheldever wood to photograph the beech and bluebells might qualify as a photographic cliche and the use of intentional camera movements certainly qualifies as a tiresome photographic cliche.  However, the highbrow nature of some commentary suggests the large and medium format film landscape aficionados are weighing in. I'm not being snarky, but I've seen enough images by LF/MF film users to know that normally they have no problem photographing cliches, so why the venting of spleens on bluebell woods? I suspect it may be due to film's colour rendition of a bluebell wood and high ISO incapability, oh and I've yet to see a convincing black and white photograph of a bluebell wood. I'm not trying to be too precious about photographing bluebell woodland landscapes, but given the demands on time in visiting and locating bluebell woods, the effort expended, long learning curve and the lottery of weather, it is perhaps no coincidence that it's easier to make condescending remarks than to show any appreciation or aptitude for it.