The sourcing of ancient seed stocks from primary forests to give genetically accurate supplies of material for future use.

This has already been mentioned in the text but a more detailed description is warranted. In the Iceland, the UK and Ireland there are Government and European policies supporting the expansion of the area covered by trees, these three countries have the lowest percentage tree cover in Europe, 2%, 10% and 8%  respectively. Not only are more trees needed but in certain instances ancient native provenances are called for. Such sources are undeveloped and because to reconstruct as the Vikings, Saxons and Celts would have done, it is necessary to utilise genetically accurate timber, PARABOW has taken on a role of securing the future of certain primary forest sources.

Stephanie Dalby enrolled with St Helen's College has been collecting ancient provenance oak seed from Keskadale.

Work in the UK has concentrated on the Keskadale oaks in the Newlands valley of North Cumbria and has recently been extended to Brantwood near Conniston in Southern Cumbria. Both these sites have woodland which is designated as 'ancient' by the Government Agency, English Nature and Keskadale is 'primary', i.e., never been managed by man. Seed has been gathered, sown and protected.  The resulting plant stock will be utilised on heritage sites where wood features in the theme. Species selected include sessile oak, hazel, alder, rowan and ash - all utilised extensively by early builders. The student groups utilised have been enrolled at St Helens College on Merseyside and the UK's National Forestry School in Cumbria. It has been possible to certificate the learning through City & Guilds / CENTRA Practical Environmental Skills 940-1 training and using in particular the three modules 'Principles of Conservation', 'Practical Work in Woods' and 'Planting'.  The teaching and learning has been so successful that Grampus are extending it to Slovak and German trainees coming to the UK and there are current negotiations with the 'Further Education Funding Council' to ensure that the same certification can be offered. Through all this training the PARABOW partners have been at pains to place it firmly in the context of PARABOW.

This seed sourcing and ancient plant production training extended to primary school children, the Cumbria Girl Guides Association and two disabled groups, West House in Cockermouth, Cumbria and St Christopher's in Wrexham, North Wales.  In Ireland, Clark Mactavish, the PARABOW partner enlisted the support of the Millennium Woodlands Project, Tree Council for Ireland, Coillte Teoranta (State Forest Enterprise division), National Parks and Wildlife Service and Office of Public Works.  Seed collection is concentrating on ancient woodlands in Killarney National Park, Drowinore in County Clare, Brackloon in County Mayo and Connemarra National Park in County Galway; it is hoped to extend the process to Offaly and West Meath in the next few months.  The objective is to establish a supply of guaranteed ancient native tree stocks within a one year period.  These trees will then be used in association with a crannog reconstruction at Claremorris in County Mayo and also reconstructions at the 'Hazelwood Centre' (a prize-winning woodland heritage centre) in County Clare. In Killarney, the seed source will be used in conjunction with dissemination tutorials offered by OPW staff in relation to Celtic and Viking settlement of the south west of Ireland.

In order to undertake these seed sourcing and tree stock securing works, UK students from Holm Lacey College, the University of Central Lancashire and St Helens College were joined by Finnish trainees from Kuru College of Forestry and Tampere Polytechnic (PARABOW partners). From within Ireland the Galway Institute of Technology first year Forestry HND students and second year Heritage Management students have been involved and also the Forestry Diploma students from Ballyhaise.