Research
Shake defects in timber
Research Status:completed
This project updates the Forestry Commission Research Information 218 ‘Shake in Oak’ (1992) with a new research report Shake in oak: an evidence review, which describes the various factors influencing shake in sessile and pedunculate oaks.
Considerable evidence-based knowledge exists concerning shake risks governed by vessel diameter, cambial injury and abrupt transitions in growth rate. The research report collates and summarises these findings in a more easily disseminated format. Recommendations are made for the management of existing crops to help prevent the planting of higher-risk sites where timber production is an objective and to identify risky individuals trees that might be at risk of shake.
The Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System enables identification of suitable site types for species, including oak. Only optimal sites should be considered for higher quality timber production. The current project enabled site selection to be further refined in terms of identifying sites that, although ecologically optimal for oak, may be of higher risk of shake.
Quality Environment advisor