The second year of our involvement in the UK National Tree
Seed Project in partnership with Kew Gardens’ Millenium Tree Seed Bank is
underway. And what better way to start than with an early summer collection of
Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra).
After getting landowner permissions for a woodland near
Galashiels I had a good look around and found that it was full of Wych Elm and
plenty of beautiful ancient woodland indicating flora. A few follow up visits
confirmed the presence of huge numbers of seed across the woodland which would
make for a perfect seed collection day with volunteers.
Heading into the woods in search of Wych's |
The date was set, the volunteers notified and the seed primed for collection. We arrived in the wood on a particularly warm morning and after I had explained the plan of attack I was followed swiftly by the ominous sound of rolling thunder threatening to ruin our day (and attempt to collect seed).
Wet work but someone has to do it! |
Sure enough, seconds later the heavens opened, but that
didn’t put off the hardy volunteers. We decided to persevere and we all got to
work picking seed, tagging trees, taking grid references and using some
specialist equipment (and a little elbow grease) to collect some seed from
higher up in the canopy.
Anna looking happy with her haul |
It became clear soon after we started that there was plenty
of seed to be collected and that we would likely exceed the target (of 10,000
viable seed). We moved around the wood and collected seed from a number of
different individual trees as best we could manage. The rain eventually eased
off giving everyone the opportunity to dry out a little as we collected all the
bags of seed together and headed back to the minibus.
Myself and the seed collecting team showcasing the fruits of our labour in the woods |
As we left the wood I took a herbarium specimen to press,
this will accompany the seeds when they are sent to the Millennium Tree Seed
Bank Partnership in West Sussex so that the scientists there can confirm that
the seed are from the correct tree species.
The pressed herbarium specimen that will accompany the seed to the seed bank. |
The collection day is where the volunteer involvement ends
for a seed collection. But, not where the work ends. After the collection I
will take the seed back to the office and process them appropriately. In most
cases this includes drying the seed before packaging as to avoid them becoming
mouldy or rotten. I also input the data I recorded on the date of collection
which includes the National Grid Reference of each individual tree that seed
was collected from, the woodland type, soil types, aspect and any other
additional information about the woodland that might be beneficial for those
studying
the seed.
Elm seed drying in our head office |
Once
the seed is dried and packaged with the additional information and herbarium
specimen and a courier is organised. They will be collected from our head
office and make their way down to the seed bank facility in West Sussex to be
processed and stored at a low temperature so that they can remain viable for
years to come.
A few thousand seeds bagged, boxed and ready for delivery! |
To find out about volunteering opportunities with this
project please email either myself (alasdair@bordersforesttrust.org)
or Ali Murfitt (alison@bordersforesttrust.org).
Alasdair
Woodland Habitats Officer
Alasdair
Woodland Habitats Officer