Forestry and soil erosion in Britain – a review

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Abstract
Research on soil erosion under forest in Britain is reviewed. Erosion can increase as a result of afforestation in the uplands, sometimes with undesirable consequences for surface water quality. Published rates of erosion are usually close to ‘natural’ ones, at around 500 kg ha−1yr−1. Of the forest operations that can lead to erosion ploughing is the most important. Clearfelling may also increase erosion, but little is known of its long‐term effects. New developments in forestry may do much to reduce the risk of soil erosion, particularly the replacement of ploughing by subsoiling and the control of drain gradients.