Ancient woods (areas wooded since at least 1600) are timeless treasures, home to many rare and threatened species. Unfortunately, today these woods cover only a tiny fraction of the Northern Ireland landscape. Yet despite being a scarce and precious resource, they continue to be lost at an alarming rate.
The Woodland Trust's Back on the Map project aimed to unveil a clearer picture of Northern Ireland's unsung woodland heritage and was an important first step in putting our oldest woods on a more secure footing.
The project consisted of four years of intensive research, to produce the first-ever comprehensive record of Northern Ireland’s ancient and long-established woodland. Completion of the project put Northern Ireland in line with England, Scotland and Wales, where similar inventories were produced around 20 years ago.
To view details of the project’s findings, including ancient or long-established woods visit the Back on the Map.