This book aims to offer practical advice for understanding and managing small areas of woodland for wildlife. In the first chapter we describe different woodland types, and how you might identify your own woodland. Chapter 2 helps you to become more familiar with the plants and animals in your wood. Whether or not you fell trees, cut coppice, clear undergrowth, conserve or destroy deadwood, can all have profound influences on the value of a wood for wildlife. In Chapter 3 we show ways in which you can actively manage your wood to improve the habitat for wildlife.
Chapter 4 looks at the valuable habitat provided by woodland edges, permanent open spaces, and deadwood. In Chapter 5 we consider additional ways in which you might try encourage wildlife, from introducing wild flowers to putting up bat boxes. Such enhancement should enable you to choose ways to manage your wood which are appropriate to the kind of woodland you have, and your own abilities and aspirations.
Chapter 6 considers the implications of climate change, and how woods might help species to move through the landscape in the future. Above all, we hope that with a greater understanding of woodland biodiversity, you will get much more satisfaction and enjoyment from your woodland.
