The Ashwoods of the Derbyshire Carboniferous Limestone: Monk's Dale

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Climate, soils and ground floras of Fraxinus excelsior woodlands in valleys on the Derbyshire Carboniferous limestone are described. Growth curves indicate that F. excelsior grows most rapidly between 15 and 50 years of age. Sites here are less than average for growth of Fraxinus in Great Britain. Tree form is determined by the aspect of the valley side occupied. F. excelsior woodlands of the area form a graded series between those developed on relatively dry, exposed (usually scree) slopes with a ground flora dominated by Brachypodium sylvaticum and Mercurialis perennis, and those on moister, more shaded slopes with a ground flora dominated by Deschampsia caespitosa and Mercurialis perennis. The B. sylvarticum type woodland is probably a stage in the attainment of the D. caespitosa type. Three successional sequences leading to Fraxinus woodland are indicated: (i) bare scree Corylus avellana + F. excelsior scrub[forward arrow]F. excelsior woodland; (ii) bare scree [forward arrow]F. excelsior woodland; (iii) grassland (grazed) Crataegus monogyna scrub C. monogyna + F. excelsior scrub; F. excelsior woodland. Associated changes in ground flora are described for each of these.