Observations on the Condition of Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Britain in 1990

In 1990, the Forestry Commission's main monitoring programme assessed the condition of 864 beech trees across 36 sites in Britain. Sites were located throughout the country, with the northernmost site being near Inverness and the southernmost near Exeter. The initial crown density data suggested that a small deterioration had occurred. However, further investigation revealed that the spatial pattern of crown density changed in 1990, with trees in southern sites deteriorating markedly. Other indices of crown condition also changed, with the amount of dieback, the amount of mast, the incidence of small leaves and the amount of leaf-rolling all being high in the south of the country. In addition, the radial growth of many trees was depressed. Most of the changes in 1990 are thought to have been caused primarily by the 1989 drought, with the 1990 drought only having an effect on parameters such as leaf-rolling. Further effects in 1991 and possibly later years are anticipated.