Woodlands
Nearly all woodlands in England have been managed at some time in their past. They have been used for producing timber for a wide range of construction uses, for fuel and for livestock management. Woodland habitats of different types – from large forest areas to small farm woods and copses – can be found across the country. Here you can find our advice on managing heritage in woodlands to inform nature recovery projects.
Woodlands and the historic environment
Woodland helps tell the story of past land management and human activity. If managed sensitively it can help preserve important archaeological sites and features. Woodland landscapes vary across the country, often dependent on underlying soils, topography and, in some cases, tradition, for example: the Lincolnshire lime woods; the oak woodlands of the Marches; and the beech woodlands of the Chilterns. As a result, woodland is often a key aspect of the historic character of places.
Woodland may also have been created or manipulated for aesthetic purposes as well as productive ones. For example, the woods associated with historic parks and gardens, or the forest designs of the early 20th century as seen on Exmoor.
Woodland and soils under woodland sequester and store carbon. The management and restoration of woodlands, and especially historic woodlands makes an important contribution to biodiversity. The longevity and stability of these habitats can be particularly important to some specialist and rare species.
The following pages provide information on woodlands and the historic environment.
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Trees and Archaeology
Advice on managing woodland at archaeological sites
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Tree Management
The care and conservation of trees within a wide range of historic environments is an important responsibility.
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Veteran Trees
The British Isles are of European importance for the number of extremely old trees which survive in the landscape.
