The Role of Mychorrhiza
Integrating fungal symbioses into woody habitat restoration.
Healthy underground fungal networks are essential for successful restoration. Many restoration projects depend on trees taking root, growing and thriving – but this is only possible when compatible mycorrhizal fungi are present. These fungi form symbiotic relationships with trees, helping them access nutrients and water.
When trees are planted in soils lacking suitable fungal partners, they can struggle to survive. This is especially common in former pastureland, where the fungi associated with grasses differ from those required by most temperate tree species. By better understanding and restoring underground mycorrhizal networks, restoration projects can improve tree establishment, growth and long-term ecosystem recovery.
What the project will do
A fieldwork campaign at Wild Haweswater, part of the Cumbria Connect landscape, will explore how mycorrhizal fungi influence the success of restoring woody habitats. Researchers from the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) will collect and analyse soil samples, combining field data with advanced data science to map fungal networks and identify patterns linked to restoration outcomes.
SPUN will then develop a Mycorrhizal Toolkit for Restoration, providing protocols, guidelines and practical resources to help practitioners integrate mycorrhizal knowledge into their projects. The findings will directly inform efforts to restore woody habitats across the UK uplands and beyond.
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