Our ancient and native woodlands are one of our oldest land uses and most diverse ecosystems. They have often taken hundreds if not thousands of years to develop, and in the case of ancient woodland are irreplaceable. For millennia they have been an essential source of timber, fuel, coppice products, venison and other sustainable products. They are a vitally important component of the English landscape and every one has it’s own long and fascinating history. Many are open for public access and are now used for a remarkably wide range of recreational activities, from dog walking and bird-watching to more contemporary activities such as mountain biking and ‘forest schools’.
