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Farming in Protected Landscapes

Native Black Poplar conservation in Dedham Vale

For Year 5 of the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, £9,382 was granted to the Otter Trust to monitor and increase the population of native Black Poplar trees within the Dedham Vale National Landscape.

Why are Black Poplar trees so important?

Black Poplars (Populus Nigra) are Britain’s rarest native hardwood species, they are distinctive trees with great aesthetic value. These deciduous trees are listed as a priority species under the Trees Outside Woodland Scheme.

The Forestry Commission lists Black Poplar as the most endangered native tree in Britain, which makes it very difficult for them to pollinate each other. Black Poplars are important pioneer species, providing shelter and structure for other flora and fauna to recolonise exposed soils.

What did the conservation work involve?

Otter Trust staff visited all 24 of the known trees in the Dedham Vale National Landscape and collected propagation material from each. 25 cuttings from each tree were taken and donated to the Suffolk Tree Warden Network who will continue caring for the saplings and organise distribution to suitable areas within the project area.

This carries on from similar projects in Norfolk where there are only 60 to 80 Black Poplars in the county, and also in the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape on the Suffolk/Essex borders where around 80 trees are recorded currently.

How will this project benefit the environment?

In at least three ways:

  1. As these saplings mature, they will sequester atmospheric carbon. Mature individuals can reach 30m tall, therefore likely to store at least 1 tonne of carbon in each mature tree.
  2. Black Poplar trees are a wetland species. Planting of new black poplar saplings in their suitable floodplain/riparian habitats will help reduce flood risk in those areas and increase climate change resilience.
  3. Black poplar trees support many species as habitats and food sources through their catkins and seeds. They create a micro-environment which provides a rich habitat for
  4. insects, such as the Poplar Hawk, invertebrates and epiphytic plants as well as birds such as owls.

What will the data gathered be used for?

Understanding the genetic heritage of these nationally scarce trees will help quantify the status of the current population as well as inform future conservation efforts for the species. Knowing the clonal types of the trees will allow distribution of genetic variation across the landscape and aims to allow natural pollination and seed dispersal once again.

Greater genetic variation will also help protect the trees against any future threats of disease. These trees are threatened by a variety of fungal diseases including cankers, leaf rust and poplar scab. Improving the black poplar population will help protect and support biodiversity both short and long term.

Tree samples were taken and sent away for DNA analysis. 24 trees were DNA tested to identify their clone types and therefore their conservation relevance.

To create some media coverage of the project for the public to engage with the project, discuss native black poplars, and register interest for distribution of native black

poplar saplings when they become available, in partnership with the Suffolk Tree Warden Network, the Otter Trust attended the Suffolk Show in June 2025.