Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Turbo’), a fast-growing hardwood species with promising potential for biomass production, is waking slowly from its winter dormancy across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs this spring — but not without a few challenges along the way.

At Headley Hall, Black Locust remained mostly dormant throughout March, with no signs of budding yet. Interestingly, a few larger branches were found broken, the cause of which is still under investigation — but the team will continue to monitor the health of the plants closely as temperatures rise.

The Chesham site echoed this dormancy trend, with all Black Locust plants still at rest during the month. Weed control was carried out using targeted herbicide application to give the trees the best start once growth does begin in earnest.

At Cockle Park Farm, the Black Locust plots also showed no signs of growth, and unfortunately, some hare damage was noted, a reminder of the pressures young trees face from local wildlife as they establish.

Further west, at Hillsborough, there were more positive signs, with some Black Locust trees starting to leaf out — an encouraging indicator that the growing season is beginning to stir this species into action.

At Aberystwyth, the trees showed mixed fortunes. While buds on surviving plants were beginning to swell, some winter dieback was visible, and several trees had unfortunately succumbed to the harsh conditions. This may underline the species’ sensitivity to site-specific weather, particularly in exposed or frost-prone locations.

At the Scottish hubs — Auchincruive and Boghall — buds were beginning to appear on some plants, and early signs of growth were spotted, marking the very start of the season for Black Locust in these more northerly locations.

While March showed that Black Locust is slower to emerge from dormancy than some other species, these early observations reflect its natural growth cycle. With buds beginning to swell and leaves starting to unfurl at a few sites, the coming weeks will be crucial for establishing healthy growth for the season.

Keep an eye on our updates as we continue to monitor this valuable species — known for its nitrogen-fixing roots, robust timber, and potential as a future biomass feedstock.

Eucalyptus, known for its rapid growth and versatility as a biomass crop, continues to demonstrate both resilience and sensitivity to the elements across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs this March. As winter loosens its grip, this fast-growing evergreen is beginning to show the first signs of seasonal recovery.

At Headley Hall, the Eucalyptus plots faced some minor frost damage to the leaves, but fortunately, the trunks appear unaffected — a reassuring sign that the trees will recover well as conditions improve. Some top leaves on the Eucalyptus denticulata were found to have been nibbled, though the height of the damage rules out deer or hare, and the team will continue monitoring the situation closely.

At Chesham, all Eucalyptus trees were checked and re-staked this month, with larger stakes installed to address signs of wind rock — an important measure to protect young trees from root instability. Herbicide applications were also carried out to reduce competition from ground vegetation, giving the trees a cleaner space to thrive as temperatures climb.

At Cockle Park Farm, the Eucalyptus plots showed encouraging signs, with many trees already starting to bud. While some plants displayed signs of frost damage, there were no reports of disease or wildlife damage. Glyphosate treatments were completed late in the month to help manage weeds as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, at Hillsborough, the Eucalyptus plantings endured some wind knock and frost scarring, with the team re-staking any trees that had been rocked loose by strong winter winds. Interestingly, aphid-like flies were noted — primarily on the Eucalyptus nitens variety — but otherwise, E. nitens continues to stand out as the most promising performer in terms of early biomass potential.

At Aberystwyth, the Eucalyptus plots faced similar challenges, with signs of wind burn and storm damage causing some losses over winter. Nevertheless, surviving trees are showing strong signs of recovery, with new buds emerging and fresh growth appearing at the ends of branches, even where some leaf stripping had occurred.

Eucalyptus remains a standout species for its rapid growth and high biomass yield potential, but this month’s updates highlight its sensitivity to cold snaps, wind exposure, and wildlife — making site selection, early maintenance, and monitoring especially important. As the season advances, we look forward to seeing these trees bounce back and put on growth through the spring and summer.

Poplar — a fast-growing, versatile species for short rotation coppice (SRC) and short rotation forestry (SRF) systems — is starting to wake from its winter dormancy, showing the first signs of budding across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs.

At Headley Hall, both the SRF and SRC Poplar plots are showing healthy signs of life. Trees are looking well, with buds beginning to form along the outer branches as March draws to a close. Weed control was carried out earlier in the month using targeted herbicide treatment, ensuring a clean start for the new season.

At Chesham, both SRF and SRC Poplar plots were reported to be in the early stages of budding, with no pest or disease issues noted. Weed control around the plots was also completed in March, creating favourable conditions for growth as the weather warms.

At Cockle Park Farm, the Poplar plots are also making a steady start. Buds are beginning to emerge across both SRC and SRF plantings. The team noted some hare damage in the SRC plots but, encouragingly, no signs of disease. Weed management was carried out toward the end of the month to give the young shoots the best opportunity to develop.

At Hillsborough, buds have formed on both the SRC and SRF Poplar varieties, although no “greening up” was observed just yet. Despite a relatively quiet management period for this crop, the steady emergence of buds signals healthy overwintering and readiness for spring growth.

At Aberystwyth, both the SRC and SRF Poplar plots were observed with new buds beginning to swell — a classic sign that the trees are preparing for an active growth phase in the weeks ahead. These plots received glyphosate treatments earlier in the season to reduce competition from grasses and weeds.

At Auchincruive in Scotland, a formative pruning of the SRF Italian Polar was carried out on 26th March.

March’s observations show a consistent, healthy start for Poplar across the Demonstrator Hubs, with the trees well on track for a productive season ahead.

March marked a significant month for Miscanthus across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs, with harvests wrapped up, new shoots emerging, and a strong focus on weed control and variety trial management as the season edges into spring.

At Headley Hall, the 0.5 ha plot of Miscanthus giganteus was harvested on March 27th, producing 20 bales, each weighing approximately 600 kg. This was followed by preparations for baling and removal from the site. Meanwhile, the 0.5 ha Miscanthus Athena plot underwent herbicide spraying and topping in early March, with a spot-spray follow-up to address a missed patch. The results show a much cleaner field, with the crop already beginning to show signs of early regrowth. The site’s variety trials are also moving forward. The 2023 Miscanthus Variety Trial has shown no new growth yet post-harvest, but the 2024 Miscanthus Variety Trial plots were sprayed and topped, excluding areas with cover crops. Weed control has proven effective, and the plots now present a clean, well-managed appearance.

At Chesham, the team harvested their Miscanthus giganteus plot on March 8th and flailed the Miscanthus Athena plot on March 10th, with follow-up spraying on March 16th. The nursery plots for the 2023 and 2024 Miscanthus Variety Trials were also managed this month, with the 2024 trials receiving targeted herbicide applications while carefully avoiding plots that contain cover crops.

At Cockle Park Farm, both the Miscanthus giganteus and Miscanthus Athena plots were treated with glyphosate on March 6th and mown the same day. These plots showed no significant pest or disease damage, and the team will continue to monitor for growth as spring progresses. The 2023 and 2024 Miscanthus Variety Trials at Cockle Park Farm were not active this month, with no visible signs of new growth reported, but herbicide application and ground monitoring are planned for the coming weeks.

At Hillsborough, both the Miscanthus giganteus and Miscanthus Athena plots were harvested on March 25th using a forage harvester fitted with a maize header. The Athena plot performed well, yielding 7.55 tonnes (wet weight) compared to 6.83 tonnes for giganteus. The Athen is already showing signs of new green shoots — a promising sign of vigorous regrowth for the season. Both the 2023 and 2024 Miscanthus Variety Trials at Hillsborough were also active this month, with the remainder of last year’s standing plants topped and mulched into the plots. Spraying is planned once ground and weather conditions allow.

At Aberystwyth, the Miscanthus giganteus plot was harvested and baled using a Krone 1290, producing bales with an average weight of 460 kg and an estimated yield of 8.1 tonnes per hectare. In the Miscanthus Athena plot, new shoots were beginning to emerge by the end of the month. The 2023 and 2024 Miscanthus Variety Trials at Aberystwyth have been cut back, but new growth has yet to appear.

At North Wyke, the Miscanthus giganteus plot was harvested on March 26th by the Farm Team, and site maintenance is ongoing with topping and mowing of grass aisles, readying the ground for fresh spring growth.

Finally, at the Scottish hubs — Auchincruive and Boghall — harvest activities wrapped up, with Auchincruive recording 12 bales from its 0.5 ha Miscanthus giganteus plot. Observations at Boghall and across the variety trials suggest that while new growth is slow to start, the groundwork has been laid for strong development as the temperatures rise.

With harvests complete and new growth on the horizon, Miscanthus — whether as giganteus, Athena, or through the promising diversity in the variety trials — continues to show its potential as a resilient, high-yield biomass crop. As the season progresses, our Demonstrator Hubs will be watching closely for growth patterns, pest resistance, and yield performance across sites, adding to the growing knowledge base for UK biomass systems.

Willow continues to stand out as one of the most reliable and fast-responding biomass crops across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs. As the days lengthen and temperatures begin to rise, both commercial-scale plots and variety trials are showing promising early signs of new growth — with catkins, buds and green leaves already in abundance.

At Headley Hall, the 0.5 ha Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) Willow plot is off to a strong start, with leaves already unfurling and pollen being released from the developing buds. The site’s Willow Variety Trial is also showing good early growth, with most varieties displaying both leaves and pollen-producing buds. Weed management is ongoing, with the team waiting for a new flush of weeds to reach a sprayable size before applying herbicide.

At Chesham, willow plots are also leafing up well as March draws to a close. Regular inspections of fencing — both deer-proof and solar-powered electric — have ensured the young willow plants are protected from wildlife browsing, supporting healthy early-season development.

At Cockle Park Farm, willow is progressing well across the plots, with several varieties showing catkins and many buds breaking open. The team has noted some hare damage in both the main plots and the Willow Variety Trial, but no signs of disease or insect damage have been reported so far. Weed control measures, including glyphosate application, were carried out mid-March to manage competition from ground vegetation.

At Hillsborough, willow is making a strong start to the season. Across both the 0.5 ha SRC plot and the Willow Variety Trial, all varieties are showing green leaves, signalling robust health and steady spring development. No pest or disease management has been needed so far, underlining the crop’s natural resilience.

At Aberystwyth, the Willow plots are also progressing well, with most plants now showing fresh leaves and some displaying catkins. In the Willow Variety Trial, variety responses have been mixed — with some lines leafing out more vigorously than others — while the inter-row grass has been sprayed with glyphosate to reduce competition and give the young willows space to thrive.

Willow’s consistent early-season performance highlights its role as a cornerstone of short-rotation biomass systems, offering strong regrowth potential and versatility across a range of growing conditions. It is also an important early pollen source for pollinators such as bees. From commercial-scale plots to the variety trials, willow is showing steady promise at all hubs this spring — and we look forward to following its progress as the growing season unfolds.

Known for its potential as a hardy, high-yield perennial biomass crop, Sida is beginning to stir across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs as winter gives way to spring. March has seen a focus on weed control and the first sightings of new shoots — signs of this species preparing for a productive season.

At Headley Hall, inter-row weed management was carried out mid-March with glyphosate, and early signs suggest the treatment has been effective. Grass in the sprayed areas is beginning to yellow, reducing competition and giving the Sida plants space to develop as the season progresses.

At Chesham, buds were spotted emerging from the rhizomes — a clear sign that Sida is breaking dormancy and responding to the improving conditions. Weed control in the inter-rows was completed earlier in the month, supporting strong early-season establishment.

At Cockle Park Farm, the first green shoots were observed in the Sida plots, indicating the plants are waking up after winter. Weed control was addressed with a targeted glyphosate application on March 20th, ensuring that the young Sida shoots will have reduced competition during this vital early growth stage.

At Hillsborough, Sida plants have already pushed through new shoots and leaves across most of the plot. The team is planning to use protective bucket covers to shield the plants while spraying the rows, demonstrating the careful management approach being taken to encourage healthy growth and reduce weed pressure.

At Aberystwyth, new growth is emerging at the base of the plants following successful overwintering. Weed control was carried out with glyphosate in the inter-rows, and the sprayed areas are already showing signs of yellowing, helping to clear space for the developing shoots.

With shoots emerging and weed management well underway, Sida is proving itself to be a tough and reliable crop. Its steady early-season recovery across the hubs signals the start of another promising growth cycle, and the teams will continue to monitor its development as temperatures rise and the growing season takes hold.

Reed Canary Grass (RCG), a hardy perennial grass well-suited to wet soils and marginal land, has shown strong signs of early spring recovery across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs this March.

At Headley Hall, Reed Canary Grass is off to a promising start, with lots of fresh new growth reported. The barer patches across the plot are filling in well, suggesting a healthy recovery from winter and strong ground coverage for the months ahead.

At Chesham, the team reported no specific issues this month, suggesting stable, steady progress. The crop’s natural hardiness and low-maintenance nature continue to shine through, as it transitions smoothly into the growing season.

At Cockle Park Farm, the grass has already begun its spring response — turning yellow following herbicide treatment to manage competing vegetation. This controlled die-back of unwanted weeds will give the RCG more space to thrive as temperatures continue to rise.

At Hillsborough, Reed Canary Grass is showing promising signs of regrowth. After the winter lull, the grass is now making a comeback and looks set to outcompete other grass weeds in the plot. The team will continue to monitor this natural advantage.

At Aberystwyth, Reed Canary Grass has already started to push up new shoots, marking a clear return to active growth. With plenty of fresh growth visible, the crop is bouncing back strongly as conditions improve — reinforcing its reputation as a reliable, productive option for diverse growing environments.

With its strong early growth and minimal signs of disease or winter damage, Reed Canary Grass continues to demonstrate its potential as a tough, adaptable biomass crop. As the season unfolds, the teams across the Demonstrator Hubs will be watching its progress closely, especially as it begins to compete with grass weeds for light and space.

Switchgrass, a warm-season perennial grass with strong potential as a biomass feedstock, is naturally slower to emerge in early spring compared to other species — and this March has been no exception across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs.

At Headley Hall, Switchgrass remained dormant throughout the month. The plants are still showing their winter colours — brown and yellow — but the root systems appear healthy and intact, holding firmly in the soil. As a naturally late starter, Switchgrass will be monitored closely over the coming weeks as temperatures continue to rise.

At Chesham, there was little change to report this month, with Switchgrass still appearing dormant. This is typical behaviour for the crop at this point in the season, as it generally waits for consistent warmth before resuming active growth.

At Cockle Park Farm, Switchgrass plots are also showing little to no new growth, with all leaves remaining yellow. Encouragingly, there are no signs of pest, disease, or wildlife damage, so the plants are expected to respond once soil temperatures increase.

At Hillsborough, Switchgrass has yet to make its seasonal move, which is characteristic of this deep-rooted species. The team will continue to monitor it, and extra seed is available for a re-seed if emergence remains patchy later into the season — though this slow start is not uncommon.

At Aberystwyth, there were also no significant signs of new growth in the Switchgrass plots by the end of March, though the team is aware that this species can be one of the last to break dormancy and will keep a close eye on its progress as the weather warms.

Known for its drought tolerance and long-term productivity, Switchgrass remains one of the more patient contenders in the biomass crop lineup. While March reports show little above-ground activity, this low-maintenance species typically rewards growers later in the season once the soil warms, and the coming months will be key for assessing its establishment and performance.