This summary was written in 1998 and serves as an introduction to the first 50 years of tree improvement in Britain.

A summary of the developments and achievements in tree improvement in Britain during the first 50 years, providing an illustration of:

• The growth of the enterprise
• The lessons learned and the modifications to methods and techniques which have sprung from this
• The widening of the field of genetic investigation as more sophisticated techniques have been developed
• The achievements which have been made over half a century.

Although the summary has been divided into major subject areas, a chronological approach is retained:

• The beginnings of tree improvement in Britain
• The genetic background
• The early years
• The field progeny testing programme
• Production of improved material
• Modification and refinement of breeding techniques
• Improvement work in broadleaved species
• Developing vegetative propagation techniques as an aid to tree improvement
• Biochemical and molecular methods
• Towards the future
• References

Note: There have been a number of changes of nomenclature and location within Forestry Commission and Forest Research during the period of this review.