Woodlands
Woodland habitats are those dominated by trees. Woodlands come in many sizes and types and comprise many different tree species. Woodland vegetation can vary greatly to the wetness and acidity of the soil.
Types of Woodland
Broad-leaved Woodland
Broad-leaved Woodland is dominated by trees that do not have needle-like leaves and lose their leaves in autumn.
Lowland mixed Oak & Ash
On more acidic soils, Oaks, Hazel, Holly, Rowan, Wild Cherry, Ash with Bracken, Bramble, and Honeysuckle are often found with Bluebell and Wood Anemone. W10
In more Calcareous soils Ash can replace Oak with Field Maple, while Dog’s Mercury tends to dominate the ground. Ferns include shield-ferns and Hart’s-tongue. W8
This type of wood can turn into other woodland types when the soil is very dry, limey, or acidy. It can turn into upland woodland types where the topography changes.
W10, W8
Lowland Dry Oak & Birch
Found on warm and dry sands and gravels of the southeast.
Pedunculate Oak is the most common Oak but is replaced by Sessile Oak in wetter areas.
Both Silver and Downy Birch occur. Wavy Hair-grass is a characteristic of the field/ herb layer, and where Bracken is not too dominant Heather, Broad Buckler-fern, Foxglove, Wood Sage, and Heath Bedstraw are found.
On more acidic soils this type of wood merges into Beech Wood with open scrub. Historically these areas were managed as Wood Pasture.
W10, W16
Beech Wood
Calcareous Beech Wood (found on the Downs, Chilterns, and Cotswolds) Ash, Sycamore, Yew, and Whitebeams can be found in the canopy gaps. Dogs Mercury is common. On steeper ground the wood opens and Sanicle grows. W12
Beech Wood on chalk may support uncommon and rare species such as orchids and specialist invertebrates.
Beech Wood with dry Acidic sands and gravel (High Weald, London Basin, New Forest) Oaks join Beech in the canopy and the flora merges into heathland. On heavily grazed areas heather can turn into Wavy Hair-grass and mosses. W15
On wetter neutral soils Beech is dominant with Bramble and Holly W14
On more acidic soils the Beech Wood is often managed as Wood Pasture.
Beech Woods are well known for their fungi.
W12, W14, W15
Wet Woodland
Wet Woodland includes Willow and Alder Carr, floodplain, and Bog Wood.
Carr is a temporary woodland. As the accumulating organic matter raises the soil surface above the water level rises. These soils then dry out and other woodland types can start to grow.
Alder floodplain woodland
Bog Woods – Largely confined to Scotland, small patches are found in the New Forest. Little is known about this type of woodland in Britain.
W1, W2, W3, W5, W6, W7
Upland Oak Wood
Upland Oak Wood soils range from strongly to mildly acidic.
Sessile Oak is the most dominant tree. Birches, Rowan, Hazel, and Holly can also be seen in the canopy.
Bryophytes and lichens are a defining feature and are abundant and diverse. The field/herb layer can vary on how acidic the soil is.
In more acidic soil, heather and Wavy Hair-grass are more dominant. Less acidic soils give way to Sweet Vernal-grass, Creeping Soft-grass and small herbs such as Wood-sorrel, and Common Dog-violet.
W10, W16, W17
Upland Mixed Ash
Upland Ash is mainly found on rocky limestone crags, ravines, and visibly exposed bedrock in the North and South, which can be found almost at sea level. It is also found in small zones that intergrade with other habitat types such as Limestone Pavement, Upland Oak Woodland, and other woodland and grassland types.
The North characteristic species include Ash, Rowan, Hazel, Downy Birch, Oaks and Bird Cherry, while in the South characteristic species include Ash, Small-leaved Lime, Field Maple, Wych Elm, and Beech.
This type of woodland is typically species-rich. Un-grazed woods can be carpeted with Ramsons or Dog’s Mercury.
W8, W9
Upland Birch
Upland Birch Woodland is characterized by the majority of the woodland being Birch. Both species may be present, but Downy Birch may replace Silver Birch in wetter locations. Upland Birch Woodland often covers upland glades, rocky outcrops, and damp hollows in swathes with heathy vegetation, grasses, and flora beneath.
W4, W11, W17
Coniferous Woodland
Coniferous Woodland is dominated by trees that have needle-like leaves, such as Pines, Firs, and Spruces. These trees keep their leaves throughout the winter when most others have lost theirs.
Coniferous Plantation
Coniferous Plantations are widespread in the uplands and consist of tree species that have replaced the usual heathland, bog, or woodland type. These plantations create deep shade and cover the ground with needle litter, stopping other plants from growing.
In some sites where the light can reach the ground and the trees are widely spaced, such plantations can be important for orchids such as the Green-flowered and Dune Helleborines. In Scotland, Creeping Lady’s-tresses are often extremely common. Also within these sites, conifer-loving species have benefited and have extended the range of these species e.g. Firecrest and Crossbill.
Caledonian forest
Caledonian Forest is the only native pine forest in Britain and is restricted to Scotland.
W18, W11, W17, W19