Members of the Sycamore Group of the British and Irish Hardwoods Improvement Programme have visited state-owned sycamore stands in Ireland.
The members, who also visited the Kinsealy Horticultural Research Centre in Dublin, found the general standard of sycamore was “reasonably high” but not the same quality as seen on a number of private estates in northern England.
Members felt the difference was largely due to management, which has been carried out at a much higher level on private estates.
The group also gained information from previous surveys of sycamore stands and plus trees, which will be used to help locate the best stands throughout the UK.
The visits were part of a two-day group meeting, which saw members agree to develop a protocol for identifying and recording plus trees. Action will also be taken to control grey squirrels and develop markets for sycamore seed.
