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Nature & Extent of UK Forest
Nature and extent of UK forest cover
Woodland is the natural climax vegetation over much of the UK.
Indeed, the greater part of the UK was historically covered with
woodland until large-scale forest clearances instigated by human
activities began around 5000 years ago.
Perhaps 90% of the UK's forest cover has been lost over the past
5000 years; forests and woodlands today make up about 10% of the
land surface (around 2.7 million hectares). The percentages of
forest cover in each UK country are: England 7%; Scotland 15%;
Wales 12%; Northern Ireland 6%.
A significant proportion of UK woodland and forest is owned by
the state, in the form of the Forestry Commission in England,
Scotland and Wales, and the Forest Service in Northern Ireland.
These woodlands are generally managed solely for timber production,
or for conservation-based timber production. The remainder are
either privately-owned or are owned by other state agencies (e.g.
the Ministry of Defence) or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
such as the National Trust or the RSPB
Most UK woodlands have been established relatively recently on
sites which have not been wooded for a long time. Around 15% of UK
woodlands (1.5% of total land area) are ancient in origin (i.e.
have been continually wooded since at least 1600 AD).
However, the vast majority of this ancient woodland has at some
point been subject to some form of traditional management such as
coppicing, felling and grazing. In more recent times, many ancient
woods were planted with non-native species for forestry purposes,
meaning that although woodland cover on such sites has been
continuous since 1600, the character of the woodland has been
completely altered from its original state. Ancient woodlands can
therefore be divided into semi-natural stands (composed mainly of
trees and shrubs native to the site) and plantations of
predominantly introduced species (usually conifers).
The most important woods for biodiversity at a national level
are notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in
England, Wales and Scotland (under the 1981 Wildlife &
Countryside Act), and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs)
in Northern Ireland (under the 1985 Nature Conservation and Amenity
Lands (Northern Ireland) Order). An additional designation
indicating areas of European importance is provided by the Special
Area for Conservation (SAC) designation under the European Union
Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats
and of Wild Flora and Fauna. All SACs are, or will be, designated
as SSSIs / ASSIs.
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