Following is a list of those areas of Ancient Woodland in England larger than 10ha. The list is arranged alphabetically by Ceremonial County.
The woodlands of Bedfordshire cover 6.2% of the county.[1] Some two thirds of this (4,990ha) is broadleaved woodland, principally oak and ash.[2] A woodland Trust estimate of all ancient woodland in Bedfordshire (dating back to at least the year 1600), including woods of 0.1ha and upward suggests an area of 1468ha.[3] This list of Bedfordshire's ancient woodland shows only those woods of over 10ha, all of which have SSSI status, and cover a total of 628ha. Of the eight woods shown, five fall roughly on the line of heavily wooded sandstone that runs diagonally across the county south of Bedford.[4]
Northants. | Northants. Cambs. | Cambs. |
Bucks. | Bedfordshire. | Cambs. Herts. |
Bucks. | Herts. | Herts. |
No. | Name | Public Access | Grid Ref. & map link | Area | Citation website |
1 | Hanger Wood | No | SP 995494 | 24 ha | SSSI |
2 | King's and Baker's Woods | Yes | SP 923295 | 212 ha | SSSINNRWildlife Trust |
3 | Kingswood, Houghton Conquest | Yes | TL 045402 | 26 ha | SSSICentral Bedfordshire Council |
4 | Maulden Wood | Yes | TL 068 389 | 149 ha | SSSIForestry Commission |
5 | Odell Great Wood | Yes | SP 958590 | 85.6 ha | SSSI Bedford Borough Council |
6 | Potton Wood | Yes | TL 252502 | 85 ha | SSSIForestry Commission] |
7 | Southill Lake And Woods | No | TL 141428 | 25 ha | SSSI |
8 | Swineshead Wood | Yes | TL 061668 | 21 ha | SSSIWoodland Trust |
Berkshire has woodland covering 18,304ha, which is 14.5% of its land area.[5] The woodlands listed below are all ancient woods of 10ha or more, and these cover some 2,403ha. A major proportion of the area is the area of woodland along the Surrey and Buckinghamshire borders. This is Windsor Great Park and Forest, and as well as the woodland area listed here, it has vast tracts of heath and parkland.[6] Also in the east of the county are woodlands on the southern end of the Chiltern Hills. The great majority of the woods listed are in West Berkshire and follow the line of the chalk hills across the county.[7]
Wilts. | Oxen. Bucks. | Bucks. |
Wilts. | Berkshire. | London. |
Wilts. | Hants. | Surrey |
No. | Name | Public Access | Grid Ref. & map link | Area | Citation website |
1 | Ashridge Wood | SU500784 | 15.6ha | SSSI | |
2 | Bisham Woods | Yes | SU856850 | 83.67ha | SSSI Woodland Trust |
3 | Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods | Yes | SU509654 | 66.8ha | SSSI Wildlife Trust] |
4 | Catmore And Winterly Copses | SU375659 | 24.5ha | SSSI | |
5 | Combe Wood And Linkenholt Hanging | (On 'Test Way' footpath) | SU357596 | 107.5ha | SSSI |
6 | Coombe Wood, Frilsham | SU545735 | 19.7ha | SSSI | |
7 | Enborne Copse | SU433661 | 11.9ha | SSSI | |
8 | Great Thrift Wood | SU871782 | 13.9ha | SSSI | |
9 | Irish Hill Copse | SU405670 | 16ha | SSSI | |
10 | Kennet Valley Alderwoods | SU400675 | 55ha | SSSI | |
11 | King's Copse | SU577706 | 13.8ha | SSSI | |
12 | Moor Copse | Yes | SU633738 | 65ha | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
13 | Redhill Wood | SU423646 | 30ha | SSSI | |
14 | Snelsmore Common | Yes | SU460710 | 102.8ha | SSSI Country Park |
15 | Windsor Forest And Great Park | Yes | SU940730 | 1777ha | SSSI Crown Estate |
Estuary | Glocs. | Glocs. |
Somerset | City of Bristol | Glocs. |
Somerset | Somerset | Somerset |
There is only one sizeable area of Ancient Woodland within Bristol. The Avon Gorge SSSI is partly within the city boundary,[8] but the woodland is mainly in Somerset, so is covered under that county.
The ancient woods listed here are those over 10 ha. With one exception, these are all SSSIs.[9] The woods are distributed very unevenly. Large areas of the fenland in the north-eastern side of the county have none. There are significant numbers in the south, toward Suffolk. More of the woods are found in the western half of the county, with a three near Peterborough.
No. | Woodland | Public access | Grid ref. & map link | Area (ha) | Citation website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aversley Wood | Yes | TL 163820 | 61 | SSSI Woodland Trust |
2 | Balsham Wood | TL589496 | 34.6 | SSSI | |
3 | Bedford Purlieus NNR | Yes | TL 042995 | 208 | SSSI NNR Forestry Commission |
4 | Brampton Wood | Yes | TL 180702 | 132 | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
5 | Buff Wood | Yes | TL 283503 | 15.6 | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
6 | Carlton Wood | TL 654530 | 10.3 | SSSI | |
7 | Gamlingay Wood | Yes | TL 242535 | 46 | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
8 | Hardwick Wood | Yes | TL 354575 | 16.9 | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
9 | Hayley Wood | Yes | TL 291529 | 52.1 | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
10 | Kingston Wood and Outliers | TL 325540 | 49 | SSSI | |
11 | Langley Wood | TL 607424 | 31 | SSSI | |
12 | Little Paxton Wood | TL 170635 | 45 | SSSI | |
13 | Madingley Wood | TL 401596 | 15.2 | SSSI | |
14 | Monks Wood NNR | Yes | TL 200800 | 170 | SSSI NNR |
15 | Out and Plunder Woods | TL 660549 | 28 | SSSI | |
16 | Over and Lawn Woods | TL 636484 | 45 | SSSI | |
17 | Perry Woods | TL 135665 | 66.7 | SSSI | |
18 | Ten Wood | TL 664558 | 17 | SSSI | |
19 | Thorpe Wood | Yes | TL 159986 | 11.5 | Wildlife Trust |
20 | Warboy's And Wistow Woods | TL 301819 | 41.7 | SSSI | |
21 | Waresley Wood | TL 262548 | 62 | SSSI | |
22 | Weaveley and Sand Woods | TL 226542 | 76 | SSSI | |
23 | West Abbot's and Lound Woods | TF 060012 | 51 | SSSI |
Cheshire has some 4% of its area under woodland - around half the national average.[10] Since 1994 the Mersey Community Forest has been promoting new woodland planting within the Merseyside and Cheshire region to alleviate this deficit, and also better manage the existing woodland to secure its future.[11] Cheshire has less ancient woodland, and in smaller units than most counties. Many of the ancient woodlands survive in steep valleys or cloughs, of small extent.[12] Taylor's Rough, Wellmeadow Wood, Warburton's Wood And Well Wood are examples of clough woodland too small for inclusion in this list. Most of the ancient woodland in the county is in units smaller than 10 ha and 65% of the area is in woods smaller than 5 ha.[13] The list below is of ancient woodland larger than 10 ha.
No. | Woodland | Public access | Grid ref. & map link | Area (ha) | Citation website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peckforton Woods | Yes | SJ 523577 | 54 ha | SSSI |
2 | Roe Park Woods | Yes | SJ 860585 | 34.6 ha | SSSI Wildlife Trust |
3 | Wettenhall and Darnhall Woods | SJ 640624 | 52.6 ha | SSSI | |
4 | Wimboldsley Wood | SJ 675642 | 19 ha | SSSI |
No Ancient Woodland remains in the City of London although the City of London Corporation are directly responsible for large areas of woodland elsewhere, notably Epping Forest (Essex), Highgate Wood (Greater London) and Burnham Beeches (Bucks)
Birchanger Wood, near Bishop's Stortford
It is estimated that 2% of Leicestershire's land area is ancient woodland, of which half has been replaced by new plantings in recent times.[20] There are over 100 woods in Leicestershire believed to be ancient.[21] The sites listed below are those over 10ha in size, and with one exception, all have SSSI status.[22] With one group of woods near Hinckley, in the south-west, the remainder fall into three broad areas. In East Leicestershire, close to the border with Rutland, are the woods near Leighfield Forest, an extensive Royal Forest which straddled the two counties.[23] North west of Leicester are the woods of Charnwood Forest. Further west are the woods of the coal measures toward the border with Derbyshire.
Derbys. | Notts. | Lincs. |
Staffs. Warks. |
Leicestershire. | Rutland |
Warks. | Northants. | Northants. |
No. | Woodland | Public access | Coord. | Grid ref. | Area | Designation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Allexton Wood | No | SP821994 | 26 ha (64 acres) | SSSI.[24] | |
2 | Buddon Wood, Quorn | No | SK560145 | 45 ha (111 acres) | SSSI.[25] | |
3 | Burbage and Sheepy Woods | Yes | SP453941 | 52 ha (128 acres) | SSSI.[26] Local Gov.[27] | |
4 | Cloud Wood, Breedon | Yes | SK417214 | 35 ha (86 acres) | SSSI.[28] Wildlife Trust.[29] | |
5 | Dimminsdale | Yes | SK377218 | 16 ha (40 acres) | SSSI.[30] Wildlife Trust.[31] | |
6 | Eye Brook Valley Woods | Yes (part) | SP834962 | 68 ha (168 acres) | SSSI.[32] Wildlife Trust.[33] | |
7 | Grace Dieu Wood | SK437170 | 52 ha (128 acres) | SSSI.[34] | ||
8 | Hangingstone and Out Woods | Yes (part) | SK512165 | 88 ha (217 acres) | SSSI.[35] Local Gov.[36] | |
9 | Launde Big Wood and Launde Park Wood | Yes | SK787038 | 80 ha (198 acres) | SSSI.[37] Wildlife Trust.[38] | |
10 | Martinshaw Wood | Yes | SK510072 | 103 ha (255 acres) | Woodland Trust.[39] | |
11 | Owston Woods | SK790065 | 141 ha (348 acres) | SSSI.[40] | ||
12 | Pasture and Asplin Woods, Breedon | SK426216 | 42 ha (104 acres) | SSSI.[41] | ||
13 | Skeffington and Tilton Woods | SK767027 | 153 ha (378 acres) | SSSI.[42] | ||
14 | Swithland Wood | Yes | SK539125 | 75 ha (185 acres) | SSSI.[43] [44] |
Bradley Woods, Grimsby
The ancient woods of Oxfordshire are concentrated in three distinct areas. In the south are woods of the Chiltern Hills. A second cluster lies to the east of Oxford. The Cotswolds woods on the western side of the county include those in the Royal Forest of Wychwood. Oxfordshire has nearly 18,000 ha of woodland in total (6.9% of its area), two-thirds of which are in woods of over 10 ha. 1,839 ha of woodland is represented in the 17 ancient woods listed below. Some 6,000 ha of woodland is split among the 3,390 woods smaller than 10 ha.[45] Many of these smaller woods may be ancient, but are not covered by this list. The list here covers woods of over 10 ha with SSSI status.[46]
No. | Woodland | Public access | Grid ref. & map link | Area (ha) | Citation website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aston Rowant Woods | Yes (part) | SU750984 | 210 | SSSI |
2 | Bear, Oveys and Great Bottom Woods | SU693840 | 58 | SSSI | |
3 | Bould Wood | SP253205 | 58.7 | SSSI | |
4 | Harpsden Wood | Yes | SU761804 | 25.8 | SSSI |
5 | Holly Wood | SP588100 | 24.2 | SSSI | |
6 | Holton Wood | SP603080 | 49.5 | SSSI | |
7 | Lambridge Wood | SU734845 | 74 | SSSI | |
8 | Out Wood | SP408208 | 19 | SSSI | |
9 | Pishill Woods | SU715901 | 42 | SSSI | |
10 | Sarsgrove Wood | SP305243 | 41 | SSSI | |
11 | Stanton Great Wood | SP588093 | 57.5 | SSSI | |
12 | Sturt Copse | SP400150 | 5.3 | SSSI | |
13 | Waterperry Wood | SP605090 | 140 | SSSI | |
14 | Whitecross Green and Oriel Woods | SP603144 | 64 | SSSI | |
15 | Woodeaton Wood | SP450112 | 14 | SSSI | |
16 | Wychwood | SP332158 | 530 | SSSI | |
17 | Wytham Woods | SP462083 | 426 | SSSI |
Somerset is a rural county of rolling hills such as the Blackdown Hills, Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park, and large flat expanses of land including the Somerset Levels. Many of the woodland areas have been designated as SSSIs with some being managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust or Somerset Wildlife Trust. Woodland covers seven per cent of the land area of the county.[49]
Woodland | Public access | Coordinates and map link | Area ha (acre) | Designation | Citations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aller and Beer Woods | 56.9 ha (141 acres) | SSSI | [50][51] | ||
Asham Wood | 140.6 ha (347 acres) | SSSI | [52] | ||
Cheddar Wood | Permit required | 86.9 ha (215 acres) | SSSI | [53] | |
Cogley Wood | 60.7 ha (150 acres) | SSSI | [54] | ||
Dunkery and Horner Woods | Yes | 1,604 ha (3,964 acres) | SSSI, NNR | [55] | |
Edford Woods and Meadows | 54.3 ha (134 acres) | SSSI | [56] | ||
Great Breach and Copley Woods | 64.8 ha (160 acres) | SSSI | [57] | ||
Harridge Wood | [58] | ||||
Hawkcombe Woods | 101 ha (250 acres) | Proposed NNR | [59] | ||
North Exmoor | Yes | 12,005.3 ha (29,666 acres) | SSSI | [60] | |
Leigh Woods | Yes | 155.4 ha (384 acres) | SSSI, NNR | [61][62][63][64] | |
Limebreach Wood | |||||
Longleat Woods | 249.9 ha (618 acres) | SSSI | [65] | ||
Long Dole Wood and Meadows | 9.8 ha (24 acres) | SSSI | [66] | ||
Neroche Forest | [67] | ||||
Postlebury Wood | 87 ha (215 acres) | SSSI | [68] | ||
Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood | 103.6 ha (256 acres) | SSSI | [69] | ||
Sparkford Wood | 8.4 ha (21 acres) | SSSI | [70] | ||
Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands | 26.7 ha (66 acres) | SSSI | [71] | ||
Towerhouse Wood | [72] | ||||
Twinhills Woods and Meadows | 21.2 ha (52 acres) | SSSI | [73] | ||
Weston Big Wood | Yes | 37.48 ha (93 acres) | SSSI | [74][75] |
Bull's Wood
• Sutton Park