§ Mrs. LaingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on soil testing to ascertain which trees would grow in the proposed Thames Chase Community Forest. [73616]
§ Mr. MorleyWith a few exceptions, the soils in the Thames Chase Community Forest do not restrict the range of trees which will grow there and so soil testing is not necessary. The Forestry Commission has, however, carried out soil tests in the Thames Chase area as part of its national research programme to determine how different tree species grow on former industrial sites, landfills and similar areas.
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§ Mrs. LaingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in discovering which species of trees were growing in Essex in each of the last 10 centuries in connection with the establishment of the Thames Chase Community Forest. [73617]
§ Mr. MorleyWe have not undertaken any specific work to discover which species of trees were growing in Essex in each of the last 10 centuries. Advice on species which are ecologically appropriate to individual areas is available from a wide variety of sources, including the UK Forestry Standard which we published last year.