Exotic tree species play a significant role in habitats and landscapes throughout Britain and Europe. Some are able to form naturalised populations, while others are seldom seen outside gardens or arboreta. I aim to investigate the role of climate in the establishment and distribution of exotic trees in Europe. In addition, I hope to investigate the potential responses of both exotic and native European trees to climate change.

To this end, I am gathering data on patterns of tree regeneration success across Europe. Simple information about regeneration success will be collected from many locations across this large and climatically varied region. I would like to invite members of Suffolk Naturalists’ Society to participate in this study by completing a short survey about tree regeneration at any suitable local site; this could be a woodland, park, arboretum or even your own garden. Eventually I hope my data will be of use to other researchers in the field, and will complement existing maps of species’ distributions.

How to obtain survey forms and instructions:

Download the forms. (See my note below - Web Ed.)

Contact me by post: Department of Biology, Area 18, The University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5YW.

Time-frame: all data to be included in the survey should be returned by spring 2007.