In 1992 the Wessex Silvicultural Group held a number of meetings to st
udy the silviculture of ash, during which 16 sites throughout central
southern England were visited. Ash can produce valuable timber on rela
tively short rotations, and to take full advantage of this potential s
tands must be carefully managed. The main points to consider are: (1)
site selection: ash is site demanding and grows best on moist calcareo
us loans of pH 6 to 7. Sites prone to frost should be avoided. (2) Spa
cing: if timber production is an important objective, ash should be es
tablished with at least 2500 stems ha(-1) on bare land and 2000 stems
ha(-1) on restocking sites. It is sensitive to exposure when young and
requires side shelter making it unsuitable for pure planting on expos
ed ground. (3) Weed control: this is essential for successful establis
hment. It is recommended that an area of at least 1 m(2) around each t
ree should be kept weed free for at least 3 years. (4) Protection: the
species is relatively free from squirrel damage but is palatable to v
oles, rabbits, hares and deer. Protection using appropriate individual
tree protection or fencing is essential. (5) Thinning: once a height
of 6-7 m has been reached ash should have frequent crown thinnings to
maintain a live crown over at least one-third the height of the tree.
Under-thinning was by far the most common fault in the stands visited.