Climate models predict that warmer temperatures will become an increasing risk to forest resilience in the UK, with more frequent and more severe drought episodes. Drought can affect tree growth, crown dieback and mortality, and also increase secondary risks including pest and disease outbreaks.
The use of species mixtures is recommended as an adaptation measure for a range of climate change risks, including drought, to provide a continuing stand structure should one species fail. However, studies on the effectiveness of mixed species stands for drought resilience have produced conflicting results, and uncertainties remain as to whether mixed species stands outperform single species under drought conditions.
A new Centre for Forest Protection research project, funded by Defra, aims to better understand the responses in mixed species stands to drought and provide new guidance for policy and practice.
We would like to hear from people with direct experience of mixed species planting and management in the UK to help inform our research, by completing a short online survey.
Survey results will help inform species mixture selection for the project’s experimental trials, which will use state-of-the-art technology to compare the performance of different species during early establishment.
The survey closes on 31 October 2025.
Share your experiences of mixed species planting to help inform cutting-edge research trials and shape future UK forestry adaptation guidance
Low commitment – the survey should take about15 minutes to complete
Join our project mailing list to be among the first to receive a new mixed species catalogue
The overarching aim of the project, entitled ‘EXPLORATION: Experimenting with mixed species planting for drought adaptation’, is to assess whether planting multiple tree species together improves drought resilience in newly established forests. The research findings will be used to provide practical guidance and policy recommendations for forest management, including a new catalogue of species mixtures with drought adaptation potential.
It will combine innovative experimental trials to collect scientific evidence to underpin drought adaptation measures. This will involve the use of the Internet of Things sensors and remote sensing. Stakeholder consultations are essential to help shape both the trials and the new guidance resulting from the research.
This project is being delivered by Forest Research, as part of research funded by the Centre for Forest Protection, a joint venture led by Forest Research and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and financed by Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The University of Edinburgh and INRAE in France are project partners.
To find out more, visit the Centre for Forest Protection website.
Climate models predict that droughts will become more frequent and more severe in the UK, particularly in the southeast. We discuss the impacts of drought on the productivity of forests, how trees cope under drought conditions and how drought impacts can be reduced in the future through the adaptive management decisions we make today.
Discover how scientists at Forest Research are using the latest state-of-the-art equipment to provide data and insight around drought management strategies, including a fascinating insight into our dendrochronology work.
