Branch lines to the ancient past

Get out and explore the UK's magical forests that were around during the days of medieval kings and castles

- DAISY FOX

CHILDREN can discover why trees are so important for a healthy world by getting out into the woods on fun, new nature trails.

The 17 Feel Good Forest Trails, set up by the World Wide Fund for Nature and Forestry England, are all packed with forest-themed activities.

Here, Mark Wright, Special Adviser (Conservation Science) at WWF talks about ancient woodlands.

How can you tell if a forest is ancient?

Ancient trees usually have wide, thick trunks, hollow centres or decay holes, and smaller tops (called crowns) because they've shed branches over time. Even if they look worn out, they're still very much alive and can stay healthy for hundreds more years, and all those nooks and crannies provide shelter and food for a huge range of fungi, insects and animals.

How many are in the UK?