Forest of Bradford

Seeds and Nurseries

The Forest of Bradford aims to grow its own planting stock from locally collected seed which is not easy to do for all species, but it is possible to do by adopting different techniques.

The benefit of growing our own plants from seed is that we can collect from local native trees and shrubs, found in parks and woodland and even people's gardens, which if growing in a similar soil and aspect to the “climax” planting sites should be well adapted to local conditions. Mature trees or those from old woods or hedgerows may be of a local genetic strain which it is worth maintaining and building upon.

Growing trees from seed is a popular project for schools and other community groups, with links to the national curriculum, as well as with wider environmental awareness and practical skills. The Forest of Bradford is utilizing the grounds of schools and allotment gardens with suitable sites for growing and planting. Small nurseries containing 200-500 young trees have been established through partnership work throughout the district: at Braithwaite Special School in Keighley and Carlton Bolling College in Bradford and many more. Each nursery will eventually supply trees and shrubs for planting sites in the local community.

A small, well-run nursery from which young transplants are produced for planting out may be worthwhile on economic grounds, as young trees can be produced very cheaply. On the other hand, commercial nurseries have the expertise and economies of scale to produce good quality stock at reasonable prices, and normally are able to give buyers the flexibility to choose what they want, when they want it. In your own nursery your stock will be limited by the seed which you are able to collect and successfully germinate, and grow on for two years.

Trees of particular species do not produce seed every year.
There have been many advances in the production and establishment of trees from seed which make it easier to successfully produce good vigorous planting stock. This includes the use of Polytunnels and specially designed pots such as “Root Trainers”. The polytunnel protects seedlings and young stock from the elements, and allows for the production of trees in areas which might otherwise have been too exposed or cold. The Forest of Bradford has a Polytunnel at Woodville Activity Centre in Keighley.

Seeds are gathered, mostly in the month of October, when most of our Native Broadleaves are in leaf and sown into plant pots and containers donated by supporters of the project. Forest of Bradford volunteers have also over the years saved fruit juice and milk cartons (Tetra packs) which are recycled and used as plant pots.

For most of the species we grow, the young trees can be planted out in their final sites within a period of about 2-3 years and this relatively short period of time means there are fewer problems with root establishment and disease.