Nature Champions: Ancient Woodlands

Ancient Woodland is land that have been continually wooded since at least 1750.

Our ancient woodlands have had time to develop into incredibly complex ecosystems, offering some of our most precious habitats, with biodiversity ranging from communities of plants, fungi, insects, moss, lichen, birds and animals. They are so valuable and biodiverse, partly because there is such a diverse range of native woodland types, including riverbank and wetland woods, temperate rainforest, Caledonian pinewoods, gorge woodlands, mountain woodlands, wood pasture and ancient trees that are complex ecosystems in themselves.
Much of this woodland contains other important ecosystems: wetland, peatland, watercourses, open water, species-rich grassland and tall herb communities, often combined in rich and diverse mosaics.

Long-established trees store more carbon per hectare than new trees, and the ancient woodland soils can store up to 40% more carbon than soils of newly planted trees. These mature trees are a vital – but ultimately temporary if we don’t protect them – store of carbon. The climate value of our ancient trees is incalculable, and so losing them must be avoided at all costs.
Ancient woodland in and around our towns and cities provides valued green space close to Scotland’s population centres. Collectively, our native woods are home to a remarkable and rich array of plants, mammals, insects and fungi whose complexity and value we are still discovering.

Photo: © Simon Ritchie