The deciduous trees (recognizable by their lack of leaves in the autumn and winter and broad leaves the rest of the year) before you form a dense stand of Red Alder. This patch is a part of a long narrow strip where Alder has successfully in-seeded from trees like the large Alder at Station 2, and is successfully competing with the planted Douglas-firs. Alder is a pioneer species, quick to colonize exposed mineral-rich soil and fast-growing but short-lived, usually lasting 60 to 80 years at the most. Alder roots provide housing for actinomycetes bacteria which pull airborne nitrogen into the soil, making nitrogen available for the Alder and surrounding vegetation. The site conditions here are more favourable to Alder than other tree species, possibly because the soil here is so moist, the nutrient types available are easier for the Alder to make use of, and the aspect (facing north-east) means that the temperature will be lower - more suitable for the Alder than other trees. The success of the Alder here makes us wonder about the rationale for planting Fir throughout the entire site when other species are obviously better suited. For example, the shade-tolerant Red cedar, the Western hemlock, and the Grand fir as well as the occasional Douglas-fir, will replace this pioneering Alder stand over time. For this reason industrial silviculture has a long history of actively discouraging planting Alder on land after it's been clear cut.