Ancient Woodland Discovery Expands UK Natural Heritage

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire has found over 1,300 hectares of previously unknown ancient woodland. A big addition to the UK’s natural heritage. These woodlands are across the three counties, often near urban areas and open to the public.

Ancient Woodland

Ancient woodland is defined as an area that has been wooded since at least 1600 AD. These areas are crucial for biodiversity, where species have taken centuries to establish. So the total area of ancient woodland in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire is now over 12,500 hectares. Good news given the pressure on land use in the UK.

How We Found Them

The project to find these ancient woodlands involved historical research using old maps, modern LiDAR and extensive on the ground surveys. Volunteers and researchers, including Katharine Flach, were instrumental in making these discoveries. Despite the technology, the physical surveys were key to finding ancient habitats. Many of these woodlands were near urban areas and hadn’t been recorded before, so it shows that natural habitats can be closer to human development than we though

What It Means

It’s not just about listing these areas. By finding these woodlands we can protect them from development and connect woodland fragments. This connectivity creates ecological corridors, allows wildlife to move and be resilient. Considering how much of the original woodland has been lost over the centuries, finding and protecting these remaining areas is key to biodiversity.

How You Can Help

This is a good news story about nature’s resilience and the importance of these habitats. Protecting and expanding these ancient woodlands is a collective effort and there are many ways the public can get involved, such as supporting local conservation groups, getting involved in community woodland projects or even starting initiatives in your own neighbourhood.

Get in touch if you want to find out more about how your community or business can get involved in ESG. We’d love to help.