Tree Planting Zones and Sub-Principles for 11 Settlements
Strategic Tree Planting Zones have been established for each settlement and can be accessed via the links below. Each Strategic Tree Planting Zone has a set of accompanying Sub-Principles, which build on the Overarching Principles and provide additional detail to inform the future delivery of tree planting projects.
Tree planting typologies have also been developed, outlining species recommendations and tree planting guidance for specific environmental conditions.
Species selection should be informed by a thorough understanding of the site and the other key elements discussed above. A set of tree planting typologies and suggested species lists have been developed which can be drawn upon when developing tree planting schemes. The lists do not set out all possible options and further work would be required to determine suitability for any specific site. Final species choice will need to consider stock availability and project budget. Reference should also be made to the Guidance on the Selection of Trees and Shrubs in Pembrokeshire, as published by Pembrokeshire Nature Partnership. The key principle of ‘right tree, right place’ should always be adhered to.
Trees for paved environments and transport corridors;
Parkland;
Woodland and shelterbelts;
Trees for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS); and
Trees for coastal locations.
It is recommended that current guidance from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is referred to when preparing species lists for tree planting projects. It should be recognised that in some settings it may be appropriate to consider the planting of non-native species, where they are well suited to the environmental conditions and non-invasive. This is especially important when taking account of future expected challenges to growing conditions as a result of climate change. This is likely to be particular consideration when planting within the urban area and within hard landscape settings. Native species should ideally form the principal component of woodland planting schemes. The effect of species choice on landscape character should also be considered, especially within the National Park.
Pembrokeshire is now experiencing the impacts of ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), a fungal disease affecting the ash (Fraxinus excelsior) tree. As a consequence, the planting of ash has not been included within the species recommendations.
Please expand the sections below for more information.
Trees for paved environments and transport corridors
Paved environments and areas of hard landscape can present considerable constraints on the rooting environment of trees. However, there are various design solutions that can be implemented to improve the success of planting trees within these settings. The key constraints on the rooting environment and growth of trees in paved environments include limited rooting volume and impermeable surfacing that limits water infiltration and exchange of gases. Trees planted along transport corridors are also likely to be subject to high levels of air pollution and run-off from roads (such as salt from road gritting). Many potential planting locations within paved environments will also call for narrow form or fastigiate trees due to space constraints above ground.
Trees species recommended below meet the following requirements:
At least moderately tolerant of drought conditions; and
Do not cause serious issues with ‘fruit litter’ which would pose notable maintenance or safety issues.
Sub-categories have been developed that meet the criteria above, but also meet other criteria for specific scenarios:
Narrow form or fastigiate trees; and
Trees which may have some tolerance for salt run-off within the rooting environment, or tolerance to air pollution.
Field maple (Acer campestre)
Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Cappadocian maple (Acer cappadocicum)
Italia alder (Alnus cordata)
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
Hackberry (Celtis australis)
Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna)
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia)
Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum)
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
European hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia)
Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica)
Black pine (Pinus nigra)
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
European dwarf cherry (Prunus fruticosa)
Sargent’s cherry (Prunus sargentii)
Sessile oak (Quercus patraea)
Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)
Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis)
Silver lime (Tilia tomentosa)
Narrow form, columnar or fastigiate trees for paved environments
Parks, open spaces and areas suitable for woodland planting will likely present some of the highest quality environments for the growth of trees. Tree planting in parks may provide opportunities for the planting of large canopy specimen trees, where opportunities may be less frequent elsewhere (e.g. in paved environments).
Parkland: trees native to Pembrokeshire
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Silver birch (Betula pendula*)
Downy birch (Betula pubescens*)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Aspen (Populus tremula)
Wild cherry (Prunus avium)
Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
Goat willow (Salix caprea)
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Yew (Taxus baccata)
Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis**)
Wych elm (Ulmus glabra)
*Absent from St Davids peninsula. Do not plant here or near lowland heath where it may be highly invasive.
** restricted distribution, mainly around the Cleddau estuary
Parkland, specimen trees: summer flowering
Indian horse chestnut (Aesculus indica)
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata)
European lime (Tilia x europaea)
Silver lime (Tilia tomentosa)
Parkland, specimen trees: spring flowering trees
Box elder (Acer negundo)
Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Italian alder (Alnus cordata)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata)
Wild cherry (Prunus avium)
Bird cherry (Prunus padus)
Sargent’s cherry (Prunus sargentii)
Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
English oak (Quercus robur)
White willow (Salix alba)
Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis)
Small domestic gardens and highly constrained sites
Service berry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Snowy mespilus (Amelanchier lamarkii)
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)
Box (Buxus sempervirens)
Kousa (Cornus kousa)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)
Common laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides)
Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum)
Magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri)
Crab apple (Malus sylvestris)
Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
Mulberry (Morus spp.)
Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera)
Wild plum (Prunus domestica)
Stag’s horn sumach (Rhus typhina)
Woodland and shelterbelts
It is recommended that appropriate native species form a significant component of larger scale woodland planting projects. Criteria should be referred to where application to a woodland creation grant funding scheme is being considered. It is recommended that current guidance from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is referred to when preparing species lists for tree planting projects. It should also be recognised that there may be a need to look beyond lists of native species to develop resilience within populations at a landscape scale. The effect of species choice on landscape character should also be considered, especially within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Woodlands and shelterbelts: canopy trees (no more than 50% of a single species within a mix. Ideally at least five key species should be included, with each making up at least 10% of the total mix).
Broadleaved species
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Common alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Silver birch (Betula pendula)
Downy birch (Betula pubescens)
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Aspen (Populus tremula)
Wild cherry (Prunus avium)
Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus)
Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
English oak (Quercus robur)
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata)
Common lime (Tilia x europaeus)
Large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos)
Coniferous species
Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
Shore pine (Pinus contorta)
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)
Woody shrubs (which will generally need to form 30% or less of the species mix)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)
Alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
Common juniper (Juniperus communis)
Wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
Bog myrtle (Myrica gale)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Purging buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Goat willow (Salix caprea)
Grey willow (Salix sinerea)
Common osier (Salix virminalis
Common elder (Sambucus nigra)
Common wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana)
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus)
Trees for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) design can involve the creation of a variety of growing conditions. This may include infrequently or frequently flooded vegetated swales and habitat areas. Some SuDS schemes incorporate highly engineered storage systems, including tree pits with structural soils which are very free draining. In these situations, rooting environments may become fully saturated, but then dry out relatively quickly. Trees will need to have a degree of tolerance to waterlogging but also drought in these settings.
Suitable for engineered SuDS with structural soils
Box elder (Acer negundo)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
Italian alder (Alnus cordata)
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
London plane (Platanus x hispanica)
Oriental plane (Platanus orientalis)
Spanish oak (Quercus palustris)
Tolerant of waterlogging
Common alder (Alnus glutinosa)
White willow (Salix alba)
Eared willow (Salix aurita)
Goat willow (Salix caprea)
Grey willow (Salix cinerea)
Bay willow (Salix pentandra)
Swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Trees for coastal locations
*Also suitable for planting into hard landscape areas.
