Henry has been exploring some of our local woodland sites, enjoying them in bloom as the bluebells have finally come out to persuade us that it is actually Spring despite the continued rain. In this month's edition of our new 'Thoughts From the Wood' feature he wanted to expand about Ancient Woodlands and why they are so important.
'If only there was a magical way to capture carbon. It would need to be solar-powered, self-replicating, non polluting and ideally be hugely useful for wildlife and humans. If only……
As luck would have it, nature has been doing this for us for millions of years through wonderful things called trees. The United Kingdom has one of the lowest forested areas in Europe, but its woodlands still hold a significant amount of carbon - 213 million tonnes to be exact! The real superhero of these woodlands, however, is our ancient woodland sites. Although they make up only 25% of the total woodland area, they contain a whopping 77 million tonnes of carbon, which is 37% of the total amount.
What is ancient woodland?
In England, ancient woodland is defined as any woodland which has been in existence since 1600, however, many are far older than this. Prior to 1600 there was very little woodland planting which means many of these woodlands could well be linked to the ancient wildwoods which covered the UK before human intervention.
Ancient woodland, which currently only makes up 2% of the UK, is completely irreplaceable. It consists of undisturbed, solid veteran trees and has a high density of rare and vulnerable plant and animal species. Protecting and enhancing our ancient woodland habitat is crucial to ensure these for generations to come. At Joe Court Forestry Ltd, we collaborate with woodland owners to safeguard and restore ancient woodland sites by developing woodland management plans that are in harmony with nature and providing sustainable forestry solutions.
There are various signs present on the land that can indicate the age of the woods. Some of these signs include the presence of certain species on the woodland floor, like Primroses, Bluebells, and Wood Anemones. The Woodland Trust has an excellent article that explains how to identify if your land is ancient. You can find the article here.'
Latest news
