‘Many ecologists and conservationists, but interestingly not foresters, were blinded for many years by the concept of vegetation as a stable climax.’ (Peterken 1996) Unfortunately, more than 25 years after Peterken published those words, it seems that a level of myopia persists. Identification books and other texts often define ranges for plant species. These ranges
In the eleventh article in the Wilding for Conservation series, Aljos Farjon reviews the debate around the conditions required for successful establishment of oak trees, and explores the potential for wild oak-dominated woodland to persist in lowland Britain. In and around Greater London there are many commons, most of them reduced in area from their 19th-century extent
Woodwaxes, the woodland-dwelling relatives of the waxcaps, form a complex mycorrhizal relationship with trees, and the white species that belong to this group are particularly striking. Geoffrey Kibby provides an introduction to the identification of the ten white woodwaxes found in Britain, accompanied by individual species accounts that describe their physical characteristics in more detail.
It has been ten years since the fungal disease Ash Dieback was first detected in England, and here Louise Hill describes the origins and impact of Ash Dieback, and what the response to this disease has been in Britain. Ten years ago, the UK was faced with a plant health emergency of a sort we
The woodlands of the Wye Gorge support an abundance and diversity of habitat for saproxylic invertebrates, and surveys have revealed a number of rare and scarce species. Mike Howe, Keith Alexander and Rob Bacon describe the wonderful array of saproxylic invertebrates found here, and the importance of the Wye Gorge for these species compared to
Lady Park Wood has been left to develop naturally for the last 75 years, and even longer in some parts, but this minimum-intervention approach has demonstrated how rewilding woodland is not always beneficial. In the context of Lady Park Wood, George Peterken descibes the implications of leaving woodlands to run wild for biodiversity, both in terms
Wildwoods is a term that was originally coined by Oliver Rackham to describe the natural forested landscape of Britain after the last glacial maximum approximately 11,000 years ago. Here, in the eighth article in the Wilding for Conservation series, Ellie Crane explores the role that new wildwoods could play in the UK’s efforts to tackle
The Gearagh is the last remaining stand of primeval alluvial forest in Britain and Ireland, and was home to the last forest-dwelling community in western Europe. Kevin Corcoran tells the story of the Gearagh, describing its history, wildlife and the future prospects of this extraordinary place. It is now acknowledged that Ireland, Britain and most
Based on 23 years of data, Tim Sparks, Lorienne Whittle and Judith Garforth present a woodland calendar for the 21st century, focusing on five woodland species such as Bluebell and Speckled Wood, and highlight some of the associated issues with these types of calendars. Nature’s Calendar, a scheme coordinated by the Woodland Trust, is the home
Once destined to be used for development, Marks Hills Wood nature reserve has now been under the care of the Basildon Natural History Society for over 45 years. Rod Cole describes the history of reserve, its woodlands and meadows, and the spectacular array of wildlife found there, including some surprising rarities. The Langdon Ridge, in Essex,
Conifer plantations are a familiar sight across the British landscape but are often thought of as being ‘wildlife deserts’. In this article however, Charles Hipkin instead focuses on the significance of the biodiversity in conifer plantations, and draws on his own observations of plantations in South Wales to describe their ecology and the novel recombinant habitats
Alluvial floodplain woodland is a wonderfully dynamic habitat of exceptional importance for wildlife. Chris Dyson describes the ecology of this rare habitat with a focus on the native Black Poplar, and explores the prospect of re-establishing alluvial woodland in its former range in south-east Wales. The low-lying areas of land along rivers are naturally fertile and so
The Wildcat is now restricted in Britain to a tiny remnant population in Scotland, but it was formerly far more widespread. Derek Gow and Peter Cooper review the historic literature to track the demise of the Wildcat in England and discuss the influence that this charismatic mammal has had on English culture. ‘The wildcat is
Was there previously more than one species of marten in the British Isles? John A. Burton, Don Jefferies and Johnny Birks review the historic literature to argue that the Stone Marten was once a part of the British fauna. The established view in all modern texts is that the British Isles have supported only one
The expansion of deer numbers through the countryside of mainland Britain during the late 20th century has been well documented in recent scientific literature and the implications for forestry and conservation are currently being widely debated. The impact of high deer populations on forestry, agriculture and nature conservation interests can be considerable and has been
