202:
for commercial purposes. Many of these ancient woodlands were converted to conifer plantations following war-time fellings. PAWS sites, whilst not being of such high ecological value as ASNW, typically contain remnants of semi-natural species where shading has been less intense, and restoration of more semi-natural structures through gradual thinning is often possible. Since the recognition of the ecological and historical values of ancient woodland, PAWS restoration has been a priority amongst many woodland owners and governmental and non-governmental agencies, and has been supported by various grant schemes. Some restored PAWS sites are now practically indistinguishable from ASNW. There is no formal method for reclassifying restored PAWS as ASNW, although some woodland managers now use the acronym RPAWS (Restored planted ancient woodland) for a restored site.
822:
501:(harvesting wood at about human head height to prevent new shoots being eaten by grazing species such as deer). Both techniques encourage new growth while allowing the sustainable production of timber and other woodland produce. During the 20th century, use of such traditional management techniques has declined while there has been an increase in large-scale mechanised forestry. Thus coppicing is now rarely practised, and overgrown coppice stools are a common sight in many ancient woods, with their many trunks of similar size. These changes in management methods have resulted in changes to ancient woodland habitats, and a loss of ancient woodland to forestry.
303:
29:
798:
179:
458:
236:
129:
786:
810:
478:
145:
119:‘planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.’
392:
entering. They are attracted by young shoots on coppice stools, so must be excluded if the coppice is to regenerate. Such indicators can still be seen in many ancient woodlands, and large forest are often sub-divided into woods and coppices with banks and ditches as before. The hedges at the edges
201:
Planted ancient woodland (PAWS) is an ancient woodland site where the native species have been partially or wholly replaced with a non locally native species (usually but not always conifers). These woodlands typically have a plantation structure, with even aged crops of one or two species planted
71:
In most ancient woods, the trees and shrubs have been cut down periodically as part of the management cycle. Provided that the area has remained as woodland, the stand is still considered ancient. Since it may have been cut over many times in the past, ancient woodland does not necessarily contain
448:
has been planted with conifers or cleared for agriculture. Only 3,090 square kilometres (760,000 acres) of ancient semi-natural woodland survive in
Britain – less than 20% of the total wooded area. More than eight out of ten ancient woodland sites in England and Wales are less than 200,000 square
339:
in buildings, for example. Such old coppice stumps are easily recognised for their current overgrown state, now that the practice has largely disappeared. Large boles emerge from a common stump in such overgrown coppice stools. Originally, the term of 'forest' did not refer solely to woodland; it
295:, it is uncommon for a site which is not ancient woodland to host a double-figure indicator species total. More recent methodologies also supplement these field observations and ecological measurements with historical data from maps and local records, which were not fully assessed in the original
372:. This was the greatest trespass that could be committed in a forest, being more than a waste: for whereas waste of the forest involves felling trees, they can grow again; assarting involves completely rooting up trees within the woodland of the afforested area.
95:
and equivalent bodies. Mapping of ancient woodland has been undertaken in different ways and at different times, and the quality and availability of data varies from region to region, although there are some efforts to standardise and update it.
116:
published in 2012 is the government policy document relating to planning decisions affecting ancient woodland. The importance of ancient woodlands as an irreplaceable habitat is set out in paragraph 118 of the NPPF, which states:
104:
Many ancient woodlands have legal protection of various types, but it is not automatically the case that any ancient woodland is protected. Some examples of ancient woodland are nationally or locally designated, for example as
348:, upland fells, and any other territory, between or outside of manorial freehold, and was the exclusive hunting preserve of the monarch, or granted to nobility. The ancient woods that were within forests, were frequently
75:
For many species of animal and plant, ancient woodland sites provide the sole habitat, and for many others, conditions on these sites are much more suitable than those on other sites. Ancient woodland in the UK, like
283:
sites and analysing patterns of occurrence to determine which species were most indicative of sites from before 1600. In
England this resulted in the first national Ancient Woodland Inventory, produced in the 1980s.
406:, such was their value to early communities as a source of fuel, but also of food for farm animals. The boundaries are frequently described in terms of features such as large trees, streams or tracks, and even
193:
Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) is composed of native tree species that have not obviously been planted; features of ancient woodland often survive in many of these woods as well, including characteristic
1180:
Centre for Earth and
Environmental Science Research, Kingston University: Dr Michael Grant and Dr Petra Dark, "Re-evaluating the concept of woodland continuity and change in Epping Forest"
1122:
1073:
356:
and other interlopers, and subject to tolls and fines where trackways passed through them or when firewood was permitted to be collected or other licence granted. The
380:
Ancient woods were well-defined, often being surrounded by a bank and ditch, so that they could be easily recognised. The bank may also support a living fence of
1254:
493:
Most ancient woodland in the UK has been managed in some way by humans for hundreds (in some cases probably thousands) of years. Two traditional techniques are
279:) for each region of England, each list containing the hundred most reliable indicators for that region. The methodology involved studying the plants of known
260:, than to animals, as they are slower to colonise planted woodlands, and are thus viewed as more reliable indicators of ancient woodland sites. Sequences of
1275:
80:
in the tropics, is home to rare and threatened species. For these reasons ancient woodland is often described as an irreplaceable resource, or 'critical
1235:
1147:
574:
418:
Ancient woodland sites over 2 hectares (5 acres) in size are recorded in
Ancient Woodland Inventories, compiled in the 1980s and 1990s by the
1295:
190:
The definition of ancient woodland includes two sub-types: Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and
Planted ancient woodland site (PAWS).
449:
metres (49 acres) in area, only 617 exceed 1 square kilometre (250 acres) and only 46 are larger than 3 square kilometres (740 acres).
1280:
159:
The concept of ancient woodland, rich in plant diversity and managed through traditional practices, was developed by the ecologist
1126:
900:
1178:
Mild and moist sites in
Ireland at Connemara and in the Killarney Valley have shown AWIs to be occurring in secondary woodland:
208:
Species which are particularly characteristic of ancient woodland sites are called ancient woodland indicator species, such as
947:
422:
in
England, Wales, and Scotland; and maintained by its successor organisations in those countries. There was no inventory in
1077:
106:
1048:
998:
439:
84:'. The analogous term used in the United States, Canada and Australia (for woodlands that do contain very old trees) is "
1023:
113:
444:
Britain's ancient woodland cover has declined greatly. Since the 1930s almost half of ancient broadleaved woodland in
1300:
1202:
Walker, G.J. and Kirby, K.J. (1989) Inventories of ancient, long-established and semi-natural woodland for
Scotland.
910:
510:
639:
1217:
1270:
21:
This article is about ancient woodland in the United
Kingdom. For ancient woodland in other countries, see
1285:
112:
Ancient woodlands also require special consideration when they are affected by planning application. The
1232:
915:
776:
419:
296:
272:
1179:
209:
850:
580:
1162:
G. F. Peterken, "A Method for
Assessing Woodland Flora for Conservation Using Indicator Species",
68:
was uncommon before those dates, so a wood present in 1600 is likely to have developed naturally.
1290:
905:
604:
870:
826:
402:
240:
229:
217:
8:
1190:
Spencer, J. and Kirby, K. (1992) An inventory of Ancient Woodland for England and Wales.
972:
895:
568:
957:
802:
738:
732:
634:
617:
221:
393:
are often overgrown and may have spread laterally owing to the neglect of many years.
357:
999:"Ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees: protecting them from development"
920:
880:
762:
678:
445:
288:
152:
85:
22:
931:
890:
885:
840:
702:
690:
657:
553:
517:
423:
361:
360:
was very strictly enforced, by a hierarchy of foresters, parkers and woodwards. In
302:
225:
183:
133:
57:
1239:
1221:
875:
726:
696:
672:
628:
610:
541:
529:
523:
336:
292:
276:
148:
92:
81:
291:
can and do occur in post-1600 woodlands, and also in non-woodland sites such as
1074:"Forestry Commission Wales Reclaiming our Forgotten Inheritance (RoFI) project"
814:
714:
667:
592:
427:
407:
268:
213:
172:
160:
41:
28:
1264:
1204:
Nature Conservancy Council: Research and survey in nature conservation No. 22
926:
860:
797:
756:
684:
622:
586:
562:
547:
535:
466:
397:
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962:
942:
855:
845:
835:
790:
708:
369:
178:
750:
645:
598:
349:
249:
168:
457:
315:
Ancient woods were valuable properties for their owners, as a source of
865:
663:
651:
498:
385:
261:
257:
235:
77:
33:
952:
937:
744:
494:
486:
381:
345:
332:
316:
967:
720:
353:
320:
280:
195:
128:
65:
61:
1214:
324:
49:
785:
477:
1215:
The Woodland Trust's search for Northern Ireland's oldest woods
365:
253:
482:
470:
462:
328:
165:
Ancient Woodland, its History, Vegetation and Uses in England
144:
53:
1102:. Eighth Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference
497:(harvesting wood by cutting trees back to ground level) and
1148:
Professor Oliver Rackham, historical ecologist - obituary,
389:
341:
774:
48:
is that which has existed continuously since 1600 in
1004:. Natural England and the Forestry Commission. 2014
167:, which he wrote following his earlier research on
1100:"Defining Old Growth: Implications For Management"
1097:
267:Lists of ancient woodland indicator species among
993:
991:
989:
1262:
1233:The Woodland Trust page on ancient woodland loss
1123:"A facelift for the Ancient Woodland Inventory?"
747:, Kent: Barrows Wood, Trundle Wood and High Wood
91:Ancient woodland is formally defined on maps by
923:(ancient forest, virgin forest, primary forest)
413:
986:
248:The term tends to be applied more usefully to
616:Hazleborough Wood, Northamptonshire, part of
1276:Forests and woodlands of the United Kingdom
252:-sensitive plant species, and particularly
198:and structures of archaeological interest.
264:are also indicators of forest continuity.
1255:Ancient Tree Guides by the Woodland Trust
753:, bordering Shropshire and Worcestershire
1141:
476:
456:
301:
234:
177:
143:
127:
27:
901:History of the forest in Central Europe
1263:
1049:"Standing Advice for ancient woodland"
352:, enjoying special protection against
16:Type of woodland in the United Kingdom
948:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
396:Many ancient woods are listed in the
1296:Types of formally designated forests
1120:
1098:White, David; Lloyd, Thomas (1994).
228:for example, representing a type of
107:Sites of Special Scientific Interest
440:Deforestation in the United Kingdom
375:
13:
323:and loppage) and forage for pigs (
123:
114:National Planning Policy Framework
14:
1312:
1248:
1192:Biological Conservation 62, 77-93
526:, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
1281:Forests and woodlands of England
1125:. Woodland Trust. Archived from
911:List of countries by forest area
820:
808:
796:
784:
511:List of Ancient Woods in England
400:of 1086, as well as the earlier
1226:
1208:
1196:
1184:
331:was particularly important for
109:. Others have no designations.
1172:
1156:
1121:Rist, Katharine (2014-02-20).
1114:
1091:
1066:
1054:. Natural England. 30 May 2012
1041:
1016:
433:
335:, the branches being used for
1:
979:
452:
99:
640:King's Wood, Heath and Reach
414:Ancient woodland inventories
7:
1238:September 27, 2007, at the
770:
504:
10:
1317:
1257:(archived 5 November 2011)
1220:November 12, 2008, at the
916:List of old-growth forests
508:
437:
420:Nature Conservancy Council
310:
297:Nature Conservancy Council
287:Although ancient woodland
273:Nature Conservancy Council
20:
306:Wattle under construction
1301:Ancient woods in England
851:Close to nature forestry
581:Edford Woods and Meadows
388:to prevent livestock or
327:). In southern England,
1164:Biological Conservation
906:Intact forest landscape
430:completed one in 2006.
605:Grass Wood, Wharfedale
559:Claybury Woods, London
490:
474:
307:
271:were developed by the
245:
187:
156:
141:
37:
871:Ecological succession
480:
460:
403:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
305:
238:
181:
147:
131:
31:
595:West Gloucestershire
481:A recently coppiced
364:, it was illegal to
241:Anemonoides nemorosa
230:ecological indicator
32:Ancient woodland on
1271:History of forestry
973:Woodland management
896:Forestry Commission
569:Dolmelynllyn Estate
1286:Old-growth forests
1152:, 19 February 2015
1024:"Ancient woodland"
958:Trees of the world
759:, Northamptonshire
741:, Northamptonshire
739:Whittlewood Forest
733:Windsor Great Park
687:, Northamptonshire
635:Holt Heath, Dorset
618:Whittlewood Forest
577:, Nottinghamshire.
491:
475:
461:Ancient pollarded
308:
246:
244:, the wood anemone
188:
157:
142:
38:
36:island in Scotland
921:Old-growth forest
881:Forest management
699:, Nottinghamshire
648:, Gloucestershire
631:, Buckinghamshire
446:England and Wales
289:indicator species
163:in his 1980 book
86:old-growth forest
23:Old-growth forest
1308:
1242:
1230:
1224:
1212:
1206:
1200:
1194:
1188:
1182:
1176:
1170:
1160:
1154:
1145:
1139:
1138:
1136:
1134:
1129:on 15 March 2014
1118:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1095:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1085:
1076:. Archived from
1070:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1053:
1045:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1034:
1020:
1014:
1013:
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1009:
1003:
995:
891:Forest pathology
886:Forest migration
841:Canopy (biology)
825:
824:
823:
813:
812:
811:
801:
800:
789:
788:
780:
691:Savernake Forest
658:Parkhurst Forest
554:Cherry Tree Wood
518:Bedgebury Forest
424:Northern Ireland
376:Boundary marking
362:English land law
222:yellow archangel
184:yellow archangel
182:Close-up of the
134:lesser celandine
72:very old trees.
58:Northern Ireland
46:ancient woodland
1316:
1315:
1311:
1310:
1309:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1261:
1260:
1251:
1246:
1245:
1240:Wayback Machine
1231:
1227:
1222:Wayback Machine
1213:
1209:
1201:
1197:
1189:
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1177:
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1169:(1974:239-245).
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1005:
1001:
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996:
987:
982:
977:
876:Forest dynamics
831:
821:
819:
809:
807:
795:
783:
775:
773:
768:
727:Whinfell Forest
723:, Monmouthshire
697:Sherwood Forest
660:, Isle of Wight
629:Hollington Wood
611:Hatfield Forest
550:, Staffordshire
542:Burnham Beeches
530:Bradfield Woods
524:Bernwood Forest
513:
507:
455:
442:
436:
416:
408:standing stones
378:
337:wattle and daub
313:
277:Natural England
269:vascular plants
262:pollen analysis
205:
149:Penduculate oak
126:
124:Characteristics
102:
93:Natural England
82:natural capital
64:). Planting of
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1314:
1304:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1291:Forest history
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1259:
1258:
1250:
1249:External links
1247:
1244:
1243:
1225:
1207:
1195:
1183:
1171:
1155:
1140:
1113:
1090:
1065:
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1028:Woodland Trust
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827:Earth sciences
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805:
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767:
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763:Wistman's Wood
760:
754:
748:
742:
736:
730:
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715:Vincients Wood
712:
706:
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694:
688:
682:
681:, Warwickshire
676:
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668:Forest of Dean
661:
655:
649:
643:
642:, Bedfordshire
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509:Main article:
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428:Woodland Trust
415:
412:
377:
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368:any part of a
340:also included
312:
309:
173:Cambridgeshire
161:Oliver Rackham
153:Wistman's Wood
125:
122:
101:
98:
42:United Kingdom
15:
9:
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4:
3:
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1199:
1193:
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1175:
1168:
1165:
1159:
1153:
1151:
1150:The Telegraph
1144:
1128:
1124:
1117:
1101:
1094:
1080:on 2012-02-18
1079:
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928:
927:Permaforestry
925:
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862:
861:Deforestation
859:
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839:
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757:Yardley Chase
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711:, West Sussex
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685:Salcey Forest
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623:Highgate Wood
621:
619:
615:
612:
609:
606:
603:
600:
597:
594:
591:
588:
587:Epping Forest
585:
582:
579:
576:
575:Dyscarr Woods
573:
570:
567:
564:
563:Coldfall Wood
561:
558:
555:
552:
549:
548:Cannock Chase
546:
543:
540:
537:
536:Bradley Woods
534:
531:
528:
525:
522:
519:
516:
515:
512:
502:
500:
496:
488:
484:
479:
472:
468:
467:Epping Forest
464:
459:
450:
447:
441:
431:
429:
425:
421:
411:
410:for example.
409:
405:
404:
399:
398:Domesday Book
394:
391:
387:
383:
373:
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367:
363:
359:
355:
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138:Ficaria verna
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1198:
1191:
1186:
1174:
1166:
1163:
1158:
1149:
1143:
1131:. Retrieved
1127:the original
1116:
1104:. Retrieved
1093:
1082:. Retrieved
1078:the original
1068:
1056:. Retrieved
1043:
1031:. Retrieved
1027:
1018:
1006:. Retrieved
963:Wildcrafting
943:Silviculture
856:Chase (land)
846:Clearcutting
836:Agroforestry
709:Titnore Wood
673:Queen's Wood
492:
443:
417:
401:
395:
379:
370:royal forest
314:
286:
266:
247:
239:
218:wood anemone
207:
204:
200:
192:
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164:
158:
137:
118:
111:
103:
90:
74:
70:
60:(or 1750 in
45:
39:
18:
1106:23 November
803:Environment
751:Wyre Forest
735:, Berkshire
717:, Wiltshire
703:Snakes Wood
693:, Wiltshire
679:Ryton Woods
654:, Hampshire
646:Lower Woods
607:, Yorkshire
599:Foxley Wood
538:, Wiltshire
434:Destruction
350:Royal Parks
250:desiccation
169:Hayley Wood
132:Blossom of
1265:Categories
1084:2007-04-22
1033:16 October
980:References
934:(forestry)
932:Plantation
866:Dendrology
664:Puzzlewood
652:New Forest
583:, Somerset
499:pollarding
453:Management
438:See also:
426:until the
386:blackthorn
358:forest law
319:, timber (
258:bryophytes
100:Protection
78:rainforest
34:Inchmahome
953:Tree farm
938:REDD-plus
745:Wormshill
729:, Cumbria
705:, Suffolk
666:, in the
601:, Norfolk
571:, Gwynedd
532:, Suffolk
495:coppicing
489:, England
487:Hampshire
473:, England
346:heathland
333:coppicing
317:wood fuel
299:surveys.
293:hedgerows
210:bluebells
151:trees in
1236:Archived
1218:Archived
1133:16 March
1058:16 March
968:Woodland
771:See also
721:Wentwood
675:, London
625:, London
565:, London
556:, London
505:Examples
382:hawthorn
354:poachers
342:parkland
321:estovers
281:woodland
226:primrose
196:wildlife
66:woodland
62:Scotland
815:Ecology
777:Portals
765:, Devon
613:, Essex
589:, Essex
544:, Bucks
485:stool.
344:, open
325:pannage
311:History
254:lichens
214:ramsons
186:flowers
50:England
40:In the
1008:18 May
520:, Kent
465:tree.
366:assart
1052:(PDF)
1002:(PDF)
791:Trees
483:alder
471:Essex
463:beech
329:hazel
275:(now
54:Wales
1135:2014
1108:2009
1060:2014
1035:2020
1010:2014
390:deer
256:and
224:and
56:and
384:or
171:in
88:".
1267::
1026:.
988:^
469:,
232:.
220:,
216:,
212:,
175:.
52:,
44:,
1167:6
1137:.
1110:.
1087:.
1062:.
1037:.
1012:.
779::
155:.
140:)
136:(
25:.
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