Woodland and scrub

The composition and structure of the woodlands we have today have been determined as much by their history of management as by climate and soils. These factors in turn influence how we value each wood for nature conservation and the choice of management strategy and practice. Although the historical perspective has been strongly emphasised in the last 25 years, it is far from new; perhaps the first modern measure in woodland conservation was the protection of the ‘Ancient and Ornamental’ woodlands under the 1877 New Forest Act.