ANCIENT WOODLAND

Ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNWs) are woods that have persisted in the landscape since the Middle Ages, from a date of approximately 1600AD, although most ancient woodlands are much older than this; many are fragments of the Wildwood. The date 1600 is used as at this time the first maps showing woodland were made, also few woods were planted before this date.

Some ASNWs may have been felled several times, and either re-planted or left to regenerate naturally, so species composition and the size of the trees present does not necessarily prove a site to be ancient. Some ASNWs have been replanted with plantations of conifers and so do not initially appear to be ancient woodland areas.

ASNW usually contain a diverse array of animal and plant species, many of which are unique to such sites and which are our only remaining link to the original Wildwood, which once covered most of England. The woodland usually has a varied structure and can include patches of species rich grassland, heathland or marsh within the wooded area.
Ancient woodland is a scarce habitat; of all the woodland in Cheshire, less than 1% is ASNW. In 1997 there was known to be only 1,263ha ancient semi-natural woodland in the county. Much of this woodland is in small fragments; most sites are less than 10ha and 65% are less than 5ha.
Some of the remaining ancient woodlands are in steep stream-eroded valley sides, inaccessible for grazing or for woodland management. Examples of these clough woodlands can be found in the incised river valleys of the Bollin, Dane, Weaver and their tributaries.

The best time to visit our ancient woodlands is in the spring when the ground flora is in full flower. Carpets of bluebell, wild garlic and anemone, studded with primrose and wood sorrel are a stunning sight.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has a number of reserves with ancient woodland; why not visit Brookheys Covert, Cotterill Clough, Limekiln Wood, Owley Wood or Warburton’s Wood.