Sweet Chestnut
Sweet Chestnut grows well on neutral to slightly acid soils in the south and midlands of England, and in parts of Scotland and Wales. It grows fast when young and and coppices well. Chestnut timber is extremely durable and easy to split so it is widely used in fencing products. It is a good carpentry and joinery timber resembling oak although less strong. Ring shake is a common defect in chestnut, especially on drought-prone sites, whilst spiral grain is a serious problem in large trees.
The BIHIP Sweet Chestnut group is leading a UK research programme and is aiming to initiate a seed collection leading to a breeding programme.
Please visit the BIHIP pages for more information.
