An update from the science side of Maelor as controlled crosses of Sitka #Spruce are underway in our seed orchards! Female flowers of the Sitka are isolated and then artificially pollinated with pollen of known 'fathers', resulting in full-sibling families.

There is a lot of #science that goes on behind the scenes at Maelor at our Welsh tree nursery. This #Sitka spruce pollen has been harvested, tested for viability, and then will be stored for future use in controlled crosses.

The public are being urged to be vigilant for any sightings of oak processionary moth caterpillars, a tree pest which can strip oak trees of their foliage and leave them susceptible to disease. pulse.ly/hzr4lfd0sa

The Forestry Commission will introduce new plant health requirements following confirmation of eight-toothed spruce bark beetle findings in Suffolk and Norfolk, as forest managers, landowners and the industry are encouraged to remain vigilant. gov.uk/government/new…

Female flowers of Sitka Spruce in the clonal archives, which are part of a national bank of genetic resources for future breeding programmes. Maelor is renowned for our full-sibling spruce – the result of over 60 years of tree breeding to improve growth, resilience and quality.

As featured in the latest issue of Forestry and Timber News, our Commercial Manager Ben Goh spoke on a panel at the first Forestry Knowledge Transfer Day on 13th June to promote further engagement in the sector. pulse.ly/bm3jsyseza

Tree rings, which record temperature information far further back than even Victorian scientific records, have revealed that 2023's summer was the northern hemisphere's hottest in 2,000 years. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Our state-of-the-art laboratory was established with the aim of producing thousands of stock plants for vegetatively propagated (VP) production from a single embryo/seed using a process called somatic embryogenesis (SE).

Alaskan-origin Lodgepole pine from our registered seed stand, enjoying the 'gentle' summer! Our technical work aims to improve growing conditions on the nursery to produce a better quality plant to ensure that this quality is maintained down the line, from planting and beyond.

Have you watched the newest Timber Talks yet? Harry Stevens, BSW Group Forestry Director speaks to Maelor Forest Nurseries' Nursery Director, Andrew Henry and Commercial Manager, Ben Goh from inside our state-of-the-art miniplug facility. Watch now: youtu.be/O-293p3mids?si…

#Trees raised from seed can lack uniformity, as each seed is genetically distinct and one seed will only produce one tree. Somatic embryogenesis uses just one seed to produce thousands and potentially thousands of genetically identical emblings.

Not too far from our Welsh nursery, a 500-year-old oak tree on the Gregynog Estate in Mid Wales has been nominated for the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year competition. pulse.ly/swvnpbvle8

Maelor's technical and lab work aims to improve growing conditions on the nursery to produce a better-quality plant that is more also #resilient to the effects of #climate #change.

Some of our trees making an appearance on the Tilhill Forestry stand (A3) at the APF 2024, 19th-21st September. Head down to the stand to chat to the Tilhill team, grab a free coffee and enter the competition to win a hamper worth £90!