Our seed collection policy
Method statement
The Woodland Trust recommends that no more than 25% of a individual tree's seeds are collected in any one year - at Wildwood Nursery we believe this is too much and we therefore aim to take no more than 5% of the seeds on any one tree. Seeds are a vital resource for a wide range of creatures which rely on them as a food source. They are also essential for the wild spreading of genetic material and colonisation of new ground, so the more that are removed the less chance there is for this to occur. Thirdly, we want to produce resilient, genetically diverse plants which have the greatest chance of surviving in the UK's increasingly challenging growing conditions. By selecting small numbers of seeds from many individual plants, we ensure our seed harvests are sustainable as well as meeting our own needs.
Vegetative cuttings are a useful way of propagating some species. When cuttings are taken, again we adhere to the 5% rule, removing only 5% or less of the foliage on any one plant. Cuttings fit less well with our genetic diversity ethos as all plants grown from cuttings will be clones of the parent. For this reason, we are creating seed stands by taking cuttings from a diverse range of individuals and planting them at our nursery so we can in future harvest the seeds without needing to disturb wild sites as much. Over time, we hope to replace individuals so we have a constant rotation of genetic diversity within our stands to ensure maximum variation and resilience in our stock.
When we collect seeds and cuttings, we take great care not to damage parts of the plant we are not removing from site. Seeds are collected using small tools such as secateurs (more practical for removing bunches of seeds) or by hand (for seed which grows individually or in bunches where the seeds ripen at different times, such as in the wayfaring tree). Some seeds are collected only when they have fallen from the tree (such as oak).
Many of the areas where seeds are collected, especially the rarer species, are important and rare habitats. In all locations but especially in these sites, care is taken to minimise disturbance to other wildlife on the site. Many seeds are collected in autumn and a pre-collection survey is undertaken to establish the locations of any fungi around the collection site. At other times of the year, rare plants such as orchids are identified before collection begins and are marked out using canes (with brightly coloured tops) so as not to be trampled by accident.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions on our seed collection policy and we will try to help!
