Improvements in Broadleaved Trees – An Opportunity for Landowners

Broadleaf tree planting has increased dramatically since the 1980s, driven largely by environmental schemes and landscape objectives. But broadleaves can offer far more than amenity or conservation value alone. Thanks to advances in tree breeding, improved broadleaf trees now offer landowners the chance to grow better-quality timber, strengthen resilience to pests, disease, and climate change, and diversify farm income. 

Getting started: where to source improved trees 

 Several nurseries now supply qualified improved broadleaf stock, including: 

• Cheviot Trees 

• Alba Trees 

• Elsom Trees 

• RJ Trees and Hedging Ltd 

• Trees Please 

• Maelor Forest Nurseries 

Availability is still limited, but increasing demand from informed landowners will help accelerate supply. 

Why this matters for your business 

Broadleaf trees no longer need to be planted only for conservation or landscape value. With improved genetic stock, they can: 

• Complement productive agriculture 

• Strengthen farm resilience 

• Provide long-term timber returns 

• Future-proof land against climate and disease risks

For landowners willing to think beyond traditional approaches, improved broadleaf trees represent a genuine opportunity. 

A short history of broadleaf tree improvement 

Tree breeding in the UK began in the 1950s under Forest Research. Early work assessed a wide range of species, including beech, oak, ash, and birch. Around 400 high-quality “plus trees” –  naturally occurring trees with superior growth, form, or health were identified. 

However, by the 1960s, research effort shifted toward conifers, where rapid genetic gains could deliver large increases in timber yield. Species such as Sitka spruce became the main focus, and broadleaves received comparatively limited investment.  

Elsewhere in Europe, the picture was different. Countries such as France and the Netherlands continued improving oak, Hungary developed fast-growing black locust for timber and honey production, and Nordic countries focused on silver birch for firewood and biomass. These examples demonstrate that broadleaf improvement is both possible and productive when given sustained support. 

Renewed focus: from conservation to productivity 

Momentum returned to broadleaf improvement in the UK with the establishment of the Future Trees Trust in 1991, originally known as the British and Irish Hardwood Improvement Programme. Despite this, progress was slow for many years due to limited funding and low availability of improved planting stock. 

A major step forward came with the launch of the National Tree Improvement Strategy in 2017. This brought together organisations with a shared interest in tree genetics, including the Future Trees Trust, Confor, and Forest Research. The goal was simple but powerful: work collaboratively to unlock funding, share expertise, and accelerate progress. 

Crucially for landowners, this shift signals a move away from seeing broadleaves purely as environmental features, toward recognising them as productive, resilient assets.