A major update to the nation’s woodland records has uncovered a remarkable finding in Hertfordshire. Since 2020, Herts Environmental Records Centre (HERC) has compiled vital local data for the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) —an ongoing national survey coordinated by Natural England. The result? Hertfordshire is home to significantly more Ancient Woodland than previously recognised, shining a new light on one of the county’s most precious and irreplaceable habitats. 

The data which was submitted to Natural England in June last year and has just been published shows a rise in documented Ancient Woodland sites of over 50 per cent against the first AWI dataset, compiled between 1981 and 1992. The significant increase is due to advancements in digital mapping, increasing accuracy in identification methods, the consideration of smaller woodlands, and a new category for ancient wood pasture/parkland that didn’t exist previously. The revised data has considerable value for nature’s recovery and will be used to inform future planning decisions and conservation management plans for these habitats, which have existed for many centuries.

Fiona Mahon, Director of Nature Recovery at Herts and Middlesex Trust says,  

“Ancient Woodlands are a special type of woodland that have developed for centuries and have had continuous woodland cover since 1600AD. These habitats are home to many rare, threatened and treasured species, such as the iconic Bluebell, the locally rare and declining but very distinctive Herb-Paris, the county’s rarest bat, the Barbastelle, and the red listed and locally declining (and incongruously named) Marsh Tit. They have the potential to support the highest diversity of species of any woodland type and play a vital role in the fight against climate change by capturing and storing carbon.” 

Alex Waechter, Records Centre Manager at HERC says, 

“This project is one of the most significant and successful recent examples of a national conservation data endeavour being carried out at a local level - a national dataset but informed by local knowledge and expertise. This project utilised decades of botanical survey by professional ecologists and skilled volunteers, prior work by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, knowledge of local places by the people who live there, and a career’s worth of local insight from our contributing historian, Dr. Anne Rowe. 

“It demonstrates how, working together, we can deliver ambitious projects to support nature’s protection and recovery. From this review, it is clear that Ancient Woodland is one of the things that makes Hertfordshire special. We are relatively well-wooded compared to the national average, and now we know that more of our woodlands are likely to be ancient than we’ve ever realised before. It gives us a much more complete appreciation of the importance of our county for this extraordinary habitat. 

“What does ‘irreplaceable’ mean? Time is the magic ingredient required to develop the vast web of interconnections between soils, fungi, trees in all stages of life, invertebrates, flowers, mosses, lichens, birds, bats and other creatures, and even humans, that make up Ancient Woodland. Once lost, it cannot be recreated, however many trees are planted. By documenting and mapping where this important habitat still exists, it can be protected in the planning system and managed more sensitively for forestry and leisure. We also have a chance to combat the losses and fragmentation of the past two centuries through the creation of new linking habitats and wildlife corridors.” 

Fiona Mahon adds, 

“The national AWI provides critical information to inform local policy and decision making, including the recently published Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and will support delivery of nature recovery projects on the ground. 

Through the contribution made to this dataset by HERC, the Trust and practitioners across the county have gained a better understanding of the current extent of this special type of woodland habitat which supports many rare and threatened plant and animal species.”

Mapping from the AWI will inform the Trust’s emerging nature recovery strategy and action plan, supporting the charity’s efforts to protect, connect and expand woodlands across the county. For example, through planning advocacy work, it will contribute to delivery of the national and global target to protect and restore at least 30% of land for nature by 2030. 

For questions about particular sites, please contact enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

Project Acknowledgements:

Dr. Anne Rowe undertook the research into documents held at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies and her advice and experience have been invaluable in understanding the particularities of landscape change and of available mapping for Hertfordshire.

Scanned and georeferenced tithe maps were made available as an in-kind contribution to the project by Hertfordshire County Council.

Andrew MacNair kindly made available a digital georeferenced copy of his redrawn Dury and Andrews map of Hertfordshire.

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