Forgotten forests’ ‘last chance’

ENGLAND is “running out of time” to rescue nature-rich ancient woodlands buried under 20th century tree plantations, conservationists have warned.

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The Woodland Trust warns the Government is falling far short of targets to restore planted ancient woodlands by 2030, with almost no woods on private land being restored in the last few years.

The charity says it is the “last chance” for what it describes as the country’s forgotten forests: longstanding native woodlands that were clear-felled or poisoned after the Second World War to make way for monoculture plantations of trees such as conifers for timber.

The original “amazing and irreplaceable” ecosystem of soils and seeds, as well as fragments of native woodland plants and trees, is still hanging on, the Woodland Trust's lead on forestry policy Nick Phillips said.

And with almost all plantations reaching maturity and ready to be harvested for timber, there is now a choice between clear-felling and replanting them and losing the native woodlands forever, or taking action to restore them.

Some 40% of England's remaining ancient woodlands - which now cover just 2.5% of the country - are classed as “planted ancient woodlands’, Mr Phillips said.

‘And almost half of England’s now-rare rainforest habitat, once found widely across western areas, is planted ancient woodland, he said.