This dataset is owned and provided by NPWS.

Reccomended reading at; http://www.npws.ie/en/media/NPWS/Publications/Reports/Media,6688,en.pdf

Botanical, Environmental & Conservation Consultants Ltd (2008): National Survey of Native Woodlands 2003-2008 - Volume I (Draft). A report submitted to the National Parks & Wildlife Service

2.3 Relevé survey

A 10 m x 10 m relevé was recorded for each of the vegetation communities identified within surveyed sites. Cover in vertical projection for all vascular and bryophyte species was recorded on the Domin scale (Kent & Coker 1992), as were other general parameters (Appendix 2). The presence of notable lichen species was recorded. For each relevé a 10-figure grid reference was obtained using a GPS and altitude, slope, and aspect were recorded. Soil profiles were examined to a depth of at least 30 cm and classified to Great Soil Group (Gardiner & Radford 1980). Five soil samples were taken from each relevé (one from the centre and one from each quadrant) with an aluminium soil corer to a depth of 10 cm, and bulked. Soil pH was measured in the field (or immediately on return from the field) using a glass electrode and a 1:1 soil / water paste. Soil samples were then air-dried, crumbled and stored for subsequent laboratory analyses of loss on ignition and total phosphorus. Loss on ignition was determined by heating samples to 500 ºC for 5 hours. To estimate total phosphorus, samples were digested using the Kjeldahl method and phosphorus determined using a molybdenum blue complex by spectrophotometer. Within each 10 m x 10 m relevé, tree size, abundance and stem quality were measured. The species and number of all stems with a dbh 40 cm; Joyce 1998) the following additional data were recorded: _ Estimated log length – total length, in metres, of the portion of the main stem that was suitable for veneer or sawtimber _ The presence of the following stem defects: forks, heavy branches, stem galls/cankers, kinks/bends, damaged stem/bark, lean >10%, fluted/buttressed bole, excessive taper, shelf fungi or other stem disease, excessive ivy, epicormic shoots. Within the relevé, the stratification of the woodland was sketched and photographed and the height and percentage cover for each stratum (canopy, sub-canopy and shrub layer) recorded. All photographs were stored digitally.