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How to identify ancient woodland on your land

The ground flora can be as informative as the trees in establishing whether a woodland is ancient.

Credit: David Chapman / Alamy Stock Photo

Ancient woodland status should be based on an assessment of the available evidence. This includes checking the ancient woodland inventory, examining old maps, documentary evidence and remnant manmade features, and assessing the species which occur on a site.

Ancient woodland inventory

If you think your wood could be ancient, the first place to look is the ancient woodland inventory (AWI) for your country. The inventories should be considered as provisional rather than definitive, and woods continue to be added as new information is gathered. Note that many woods under 2ha are currently not included in the English inventory, although it is likely that these will be added as the AWI in England is updated.

Old maps

Look for archival information at your local records office. These can be a valuable source of information on ancient woodland.

Old maps may show whether land was wooded. Check for irregular shaped boundaries, unfenced boundaries and wood names. For example, in England names containing 'hagg' or 'spring' are Norse and Saxon names for coppiced woods. In Scotland, woods with Gaelic names usually indicate pre-18th century origin - the language was banned after the 1745 uprising.

Nineteenth century Ordnance Survey (OS) maps are excellent. In Scotland, use them alongside the inventory. The recommended map is First Edition OS 6” to the mile. View old maps for Scotland online at the National Library of Scotland.

In England and Wales, the First Edition OS County Series or Epoch 1 maps are recommended. The original Ordnance Surveyors drawings produced between 1780 and 1840 are available (south of Hull) from the British Library. Old maps are available from the Historical Map Archive.

Old estate maps and tithe maps (showing land use at the time of enclosure) can also be invaluable. Look for them at county archives. The tithe maps for Wales (mid 1800s) have been fully digitised and are accessible online.

Herb paris is also an ancient woodland indicator plant.

Credit: Fran Hitchinson/WTML

An abundance of primrose can be a sign of ancient woodland.

Credit: Margaret Barton / WTML

Wild service tree is rare but can be found in pockets of ancient woodland.

Credit: Bob Gibbons / Alamy Stock Photo

Bluebells are considered an ancient woodland indicator plant.

Credit: WTML

Some lichens can indicate that an area has been wooded for a long time.

Credit: WTML

Remnant features like coppice stools can give clues to a wood's history.

Credit: Archie Miles/WTML

Ancient woodland features

Various features can help identify that a site has been wooded for a considerable length of time.

Some plant species are a good indication of ancient woodland and have been listed as ‘ancient woodland indicator plants’. The cumulative number is important – the more species you can find, the stronger the evidence. These include plants such as:

Ancient woodland indicators should be considered alongside other evidence, and other groups of species can also help indicate a continuity of woodland conditions. These include groups of invertebrates, such as insects associated with decaying wood and terrestrial molluscs, and lichens.

Remnant manmade features give clues about a wood’s cultural history. Some can suggest a wood is ancient, such as medieval wood banks, large coppice stools and old pollarded trees.

The rich, unique landscapes of Britain's ancient woodlands are full of both natural and archaeological features.

The tree canopy provides shelter and a plethora of insects for woodland birds. Large, gnarly trunks have great crevices and holes, perfect for sheltering owls, bats, woodpeckers and insects. Gaps in between thick, exposed roots are ideal hideaways for small mammals, foxes and badgers.

Incredibly, the English oak can live for over a thousand years and supports more native wildlife than any other tree species in ancient woodland.

A fascinating landscape lies under the tree canopy. The scrub on the woodland floor is a mix of flowering plants, young trees and herbaceous shrubs, which are perfectly adapted to the dappled light and provide an important food source for pollinators during spring.

Ancient organisms called lichens cloak the trees, stones and fallen wood. Lichens can take several hundred years to grow and display an incredible range of colours, textures and shapes. Fungi break down the dead wood, returning valuable nutrients to the rich soil.

Man-made dry stone walls and wood banks give us a glimpse of how our ancestors used ancient woodland. Coppice stools are tree stumps that have formed where multiple stems are repeatedly cut and have regrown from a tree. They give us a living photograph of age-old practices.

These treasures are a tangible link to a long lasting and invaluable relationship between man and woods.

Discover more about ancient woodland and restoration