NATIVE BLACK POPLAR (POPULUS NIGRA SUBSP. BETULIFOLIA)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! ACTION COMPLETED IN 2005

The last trees were removed from BTCV nursery at Norley and planted at suitable sites including Chester Zoo and Crewe & Nantwich council sites. Some of the smaller trees were moved to the Cheshire Landscape Trust at Marbury from where they will be distributed.

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed!

CURRENT STATUS

The black poplar, which is considered to be native in Britain, is a segregate population of the Atlantic race of Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia, and is thought to be the most endangered native timber tree in Britain (White, 1993). In Cheshire the black poplar survives at the north western limit of its range, however the old, scattered trees are no longer regenerating naturally.

Due to increased recording of the species, it is now thought that the black poplar population in Britain comprises 6 - 7,000 trees, of which over 300 occur in the Cheshire region. The population in Cheshire consists of approximately 50% female trees; a significantly higher percentage than most other parts of the country. They are found principally along the floodplains of the Rivers Gowy and Weaver, mostly adjacent to rivers and brooks, with a few next to marl pits, ditches and in hedgerows. Many of the surviving black poplars in the county are remnants of the floodplain 'wildwood' (Guest, 1994).

THREATS

• Loss of suitable habitat
• Hybridisation with non-native poplars. The population is composed of predominantly old trees growing in isolation from each other so no natural regeneration is occurring.
• Felling of trees due to road building and development schemes.
• Indiscriminate felling of trees considered 'unsafe', rather than reducing risk through careful management and tree surgery (for example: pollarding old trees rather than felling them).
  
  

CURRENT ACTION

• Co-ordination of the Black Poplar project of the Cheshire region by CWT and Chester Zoo.
• Development of new funding bids for Phase 2 (planting and genetic research).
• Ongoing programme of taking cuttings (over 5,000 to date) from known (Guest 1996) and newly recorded trees for planting at tree nurseries.
• Continuing maintenance of tree nurseries.
• Monitoring and recording of trees: mapping, tagging and photographing black poplars. Updating the database with current data, including newly planted trees.
• Raising awareness about black poplars through publications and radio interviews, producing a slide pack and giving talks to a variety of groups.
• Collating new planting sites and confirming their suitability.
• Planting of black poplars by CLT Tree Wardens, CCC Countryside Management Services, FWAG, EA, CWT, contractors and landowners.
• Attendance at National Black Poplar BAP Action Group meetings and ongoing contact with other Black Poplar projects' around the country.
• Responding to planning applications that have implications for black poplars.
• Producing updated GIS data and maps with the co-operation of Cheshire County Council.
• Liason with other individuals and organisations to promote the project, and to arrange for new planting sites.
• Providing advice and information to landowners and members of the public who express an interest in native black poplars.
  
  

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2006+

• Secure funding for genetic work to establish the diversity of the Cheshire population.
• Produce a report of all the Cheshire Black Poplars for distribution to CCC and CWT.
• Plan monitoring and sample gathering from all mature trees
• Distribute information sheet to all tree owners and make available at relevant local/regional events (Cheshire Show, RHS, One World Day…)
• Establish new tree nursery holding cuttings of known provenance, particularly including female trees.
• Establish main database at local record centre.
• In Feb and March 2005 we collected new cuttings from 40 trees. These are being allowed to establish in the tree nursery at Chester Zoo and will be passed on to the identified stool bed sites in early 2006.
• More cuttings, with an emphasis on female trees, will be collected in autumn/winter 2005/6.

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

• Formation of LBAP Action Group (BSBI, CCC, CLT, CWT, EA, FWAG, Ness Botanic Gardens, Chester Zoo).
• Appointment of project officer at CWT from 2000 to 2002.
• Funds (£45k) generated through landfill tax, for Phase 1 of the project (identification of the trees, taking cuttings and development of new stocks) thanks to 3C Waste Ltd, supported by a grant from CCC
• Establishment of a tree nurseries at Norley and Reaseheath.
• Training days held on black poplar identification and taking cuttings.
• Inclusion of issues relating to black poplars in Local Environment Agency Plans (LEAP's).
• Preliminary genetic study: Forest Research (Forestry Commission) has genetically tested a small number of trees. Results showed high genetic diversity within the small sample number (this is an excellent result, as high diversity makes a stronger overall population).
• Tree planting. A number of high quality locations have been utilised to return young trees to ideal riverside and floodplain locations.
• Continued liaison with landowners to negotiate agreements over new planting sites.
• A native black poplar tree-planting scheme funded by the Mersey Basin Campaign has allowed a number of trees to be planted within the River Weaver catchment area.
• Involvement of local volunteer groups and students with black poplar tree planting and propagation of cuttings.
• A database of planting sites has been produced, in order to keep accurate records and to ensure the origin of cuttings can be traced.
• Cheshire County Council have continued to support the project inputting more black poplar data onto a GIS (Geographical Information System) computer database and mapping program.
• Species recording card for black poplar produced by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.
• Identification Event held in May 2003 at Ness Gardens to which 30 people attended.
• Approx. 100 trees from nurseries at Reaseheath and Norley planted in suitable new sites in Cheshire in 2003.
• Contacts with neighboring Black Poplar BAP's strengthened.
• Information and identification leaflet produced in 2004 and distributed to all recorded poplar owners, and all individuals making enquiries (approx. 300 copies)
• More than 250 trees from Norley nursery planted out in suitable new sites in Cheshire in 2004.
• All trees were removed from Norley nursery by the end of October 2004.

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

None

CONTACT

REFERENCES

Guest, J. (1994): 'Ramblings of a Cheshire Naturalist' in The Grebe (Newsletter of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust).
Guest, J. (1996): List of Locations of Black Poplars in Cheshire
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
Milne-Redhead, E. (1990): The BSBL Black Poplar Survey 1973-1988, Watsonia 18 pp. 1-5.
Spencer, J. (1994): The Native Black Poplar in Britain - An Action Plan for its conservation, English Nature, Newbury, Berks.
White, J. (1993): Black Poplar: The Most Endangered Native Timber Tree in Britain (Forestry Authority Research Information Note 239).

Date compiled - 1997
Date reviewed - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

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