Increasing Understanding of Direct Seeding in UK
One of the most innovative schemes for direct seeding of oak in the UK is taking place deep in the Somerset countryside. The project is part of Woodland Heritage’s development of James Wood, its first demonstration woodland. The direct seeding element of the woodland design has been made possible by the RFS Grant for Resilient Woodlands.



Photography ©WoodlandHeritage
James Wood lies on rolling former agricultural land between the Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park. A generous bequest from James Stratton (1971-2019) to Woodland Heritage has made the creation of the 20ha woodland possible.
The woodland plan has been designed by Woodland Heritage with advice from Norbert Kovacs, Senior Forest Manager at Euroforest Silviculture, in collaboration with the Stratton family and with the support of a Woodland Creation Planning Grant.
James Wood aims to be robust in the face of the uncertainties brought by climate change. Fine home-grown timber will be its the primary crop but it will also provide education, carbon capture, flood resilience and an increase in biodiversity.
Most of the area is former pasture land which had been unmanaged for several years. In 2023-2024 it was cleared of thistles, brambles, ragwort, nettles and other encroaching vegetation. Deer fencing was put up to enclose the site and active deer, squirrel and rabbit control established. Raptor poles encourage raptors to keep vole and mice populations down.
Between January-April 2025 16.5ha were planted, mainly with one-year-old cell-grown trees under a English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) grant. More than 30 broadleaved and conifer species were planted. Small existing woodland areas and hedges were incorporated.
The remaining land has been planted under an RFS Grant for Resilient Woodlands using a direct seeding technique not covered under the EWCO grant.
Direct Seeding
This planting method is widespread in Hungary and elsewhere in Europe but not in the UK.
The trials will increase understanding in the UK of this alternative establishment method and its potential advantages and disadvantages.
Seed specialists Forestart provided the acorns planted at James Wood. They had been sourced from England, France, Poland and the Netherlands.
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Method




Photography ©WoodlandHeritage
Brendon Hill Tree Services prepared, fenced and planted the entire site. This was their first experience of direct seeding.
Initial preparation included subsoiling – preparation of the drill line to loosen compacted soil – and an application of weed killer along each line to eliminate competitive grasses.
A tree planting machine attached to a tractor was adapted for the project.
A seed deliverer sat in the tree planter with a sack of acorns while the unit was driven at speeds varying from just 0.5kmph to 1.5kmph. A measuring disc calibrated to particular densities alerted him to deliver ‘nests’ of seeds (5-6 acorns) through a hopper along a drill line.
As the tractor moved forward each drill line was pushed close above the acorns with someone walking behind the tractor to help further heel down the lines.
Each line was marked for provenance and GPS mapped for easy comparison in future years. Those comparisons will initially look at establishment successes for the different provenances and at how they compare to cell-grown trees. Longer term comparisons will be able to tell whether direct seeded trees are more, or less, resilient to wind blow and/or drought to their cell grown equivalents.
The seeding was designed in blocks across five compartments and planted between blocks of cell grown oaks. Rows were planted West to East by country. Densities of 10,000, 5,000 and 3,000 per hectare are being trialled with rows that are 3m apart for easy mowing.
It took just three days in early April 2025 to complete the direct seeding operation.
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The Pros
This method is designed to replicate a good mast year, where acorns would naturally fall in dense numbers.
By planting in high densities, the trees should grow fast and straight with fewer side branches. This may lead to more choices when, thinning, respacing and choosing best quality timber trees. This in turn could lead to a higher economic return when the trees are felled.
Transplanting trees can damage young and developing root systems, particularly the tap root. Seeded trees will avoid those traumas. That could enable them to establish more quickly with a stronger tap root and root system. This would potentially make them more able to withstand storms and /or periods of droughts than cell grown/bare rooted oaks.
Direct planting of seeds in such quantities is cheaper and faster than planting young trees and whips.
The approximate cost was about 10p/acorn or 48p per tree assuming 20,260 final trees.
The tree planting costs were around £2.67/tree for 23, 500 trees, including the cost of easywrap tree shelters for broadleaves. The cost reduces to £1.60/tree without the shelters.
Both costs include initial chemical application for both types but exclude fencing and subsoiling.
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The Cons
Direct seeding cannot be used everywhere. Land needs to be relatively even. While it is suitable on former agricultural land, it is not suitable to restock woodland or in waterlogged areas.
Direct seeding also requires earlier and more frequent interventions to respace and thin than for cell grown trees.
The Seed





Photography ©WoodlandHeritage
Forestart provided all acorns from cold storage with known provenances and with plant passports. They could be planted immediately. Any seed provided from dry storage would have required initial soaking in water.
Pedunculate oak came from the Lowther Estate in Cumbria.
Sessile oak had had a poor mast year in 2024 and there were limited UK supplies. UK acorns came from a seed stand in Ross-on-Wye in England, with others from Poland, France and the Netherlands.
Acorns arrived in 15kg sacks. Their size and weight determining the number of seed per bag.
Expected germination rates are around 80%.
Care & Maintenance
Each drill row will be regularly checked for weed and other competitive growth. Evidence of initial germination is anticipated within eight weeks.
Given the expected higher density of trees, earlier management interventions – compared to planted stands – are critical. Cleaning, respacing and the removal of wolf trees will be very important in the early years to ensure the best trees have enough space to grow. More thinning and respacing interventions are envisioned before the stand turns 10-15years of age as opposed to the normal 15-20 years for planted stands.
By planting in April, when more food sources are available, it is hoped the acorns will avoid the attentions of squirrels. Deer fencing and vigilant pest control is already in place and will be maintained.
The Landscape
James Wood is on brown soils and 133m at its highest point. Visual appeal played an important element in its design. While it is not within a designated landscape area, it is visible from both the Exmoor National Park and the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It is also within the Doniford Stream catchment area. The design will assist water retention to prevent flooding further downstream. It will also improve water quality by removing agricultural inputs such as nitrates and phosphates.
See for Yourself
James Wood is being created from a generous bequest from James Stratton. James appreciated home-grown timber; even the flooring in his home and his dining table were made of English oak and full of character. He hoped the woodland would yield fine timber and that this approach would support the health and character of the new woodland.
Woodland Heritage is holding Open Woods and Workshops Days at James Wood on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June, Friday 27 June and Saturday 28 June. Book your place here here.

More Information
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please email us at rfshq@rfs.org.uk
Grants for Resilient Woodlands
Our Grants for Resilient Woodlands are funded by Train Hugger and Green The UK. They are open for applications from Royal Forestry Society (RFS) and Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS) members all year round.
These grants are to help people plant trees that will survive and thrive into the future. Creating better, more resilient treescapes for our environment, for people and for the economy.