List of ancient woods in England facts for kids

This list of ancient woods in England contains areas of ancient woodland in England larger than ten hectares. The list is arranged alphabetically by ceremonial county.

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B

Bedfordshire

The woodlands of Bedfordshire cover 6.2% of the county. Some two thirds of this (4,990 ha or 12,300 acres) is broad-leaved woodland, principally oak and ash. A woodland Trust estimate of all ancient woodland in Bedfordshire (dating back to at least the year 1600), including woods of 0.1 ha (0.25 acres) and upward suggests an area of 1,468 ha (3,630 acres). This list of Bedfordshire's ancient woodland shows only those woods of over 10 ha (25 acres), all of which have SSSI status, and cover a total of 628 ha (1,550 acres). Of the eight woods shown, five fall roughly on the line of heavily wooded sandstone that runs diagonally across the county south of Bedford.

Quick facts for kids
Neighbouring counties

Northants.	Northants. Cambs.	Cambs.
Bucks.	Bedfordshire.	Cambs. Herts.
Bucks.	Herts.	Herts.

The principal Ancient Woods in Bedfordshire

No.	Name	Public Access	Location	Area		References
				Ha	Acres
1	Hanger Wood			24	59	SSSI
2	King's and Baker's Woods	Y		212	524	SSSI NNR BNCPWT
3	Kingswood, Houghton Conquest	Y		26	64	SSSI Local Gov
4	Maulden Wood	Y		149	368	SSSI FC
5	Odell Great Wood	Y		86	212	SSSI Local Gov
6	Potton Wood	Y		85	210	SSSI FC
7	Southill Lake And Woods			25	62	SSSI
8	Swineshead Wood	Y		21	52	SSSI WT

Berkshire

Berkshire has woodland covering 18,304 ha (45,230 acres), which is 14.5% of its land area. The woodlands listed below are all ancient woods of 10 ha (25 acres) or more, and these cover some 2,403 ha (5,940 acres). A major proportion of the area is the area of woodland along the Surrey and Buckinghamshire borders. This is Windsor Great Park and Forest, and as well as the woodland area listed here, it has vast tracts of heath and parkland. Also in the east of the county are woodlands on the southern end of the Chiltern Hills. The great majority of the woods listed are in West Berkshire and follow the line of the chalk hills across the county.

Neighbouring counties

Wilts.	Oxen. Bucks.	Bucks.
Wilts.	Berkshire.	London.
Wilts.	Hants.	Surrey

The principal Ancient Woods in Berkshire

No.	Name	Public Access	Location	Area		References
				Ha	Acres
1	Ashridge Wood			16	40	SSSI
2	Bisham Woods	Y		84	208	SSSI WT
3	Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods	Y		67	166	SSSI BBOWT
4	Catmore and Winterly Copses			25	62	SSSI
5	Combe Wood And Linkenholt Hanging			108	267	SSSI
6	Coombe Wood, Frilsham			20	49	SSSI
7	Enborne Copse			12	30	SSSI
8	Great Thrift Wood			14	35	SSSI
9	Irish Hill Copse			16	40	SSSI
10	Kennet Valley Alderwoods			55	136	SSSI
11	King's Copse			14	35	SSSI
12	Redhill Wood			30	74	SSSI
13	Snelsmore Common	Y		103	255	SSSI Local Gov
14	Windsor Forest And Great Park	Y		1777	4391	SSSI Crown Estate

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Neighbouring counties

Estuary	Glocs.	Glocs.
Somerset	City of Bristol	Glocs.
Somerset	Somerset	Somerset

There is only one sizeable area of Ancient Woodland within Bristol. The Avon Gorge SSSI is partly within the city boundary, but the woodland is mainly in Somerset, so is covered under that county.

Buckinghamshire

9.4% of the land area of Buckinghamshire is Woodland.

• Bernwood Forest
• Burnham Beeches
• Hollington Wood
• Jones Hill Wood

C

Cambridgeshire

The ancient woods listed here are those over 10 ha (25 acres). With one exception, these are all SSSIs. The woods are distributed very unevenly. Large areas of the fenland in the north-eastern side of the county have none. There are significant numbers in the south, toward Suffolk. More of the woods are found in the western half of the county, with three near Peterborough.

The principal Ancient Woods in Cambridgeshire

No.	Name	Public Access	Location & map links	Area		References
				Ha	Acres
1	Aversley Wood	Y		61	151	SSSI WT
2	Balsham Wood			35	85	SSSI
3	Bedford Purlieus NNR	Y		208	514	SSSI NNR FC
4	Brampton Wood	Y		132	326	SSSI BCNPWT
5	Buff Wood	Y		16	39	SSSI BCNPWT
6	Carlton Wood			10	25	SSSI
7	Gamlingay Wood	Y		46	114	SSSI BCNPWT
8	Hardwick Wood	Y		17	42	SSSI BCNPWT
9	Hayley Wood	Y		52	129	SSSI BCNPWT
10	Kingston Wood and Outliers			49	121	SSSI
11	Langley Wood			31	77	SSSI
12	Little Paxton Wood			45	111	SSSI
13	Madingley Wood			15	38	SSSI
14	Monks Wood NNR			170	420	SSSI NNR
15	Out and Plunder Woods			28	69	SSSI
16	Over and Lawn Woods			45	111	SSSI
17	Perry Woods			67	165	SSSI
18	Ten Wood			17	42	SSSI
19	Thorpe Wood	Y		12	28	SSSI BCNPWT
20	Warboy's And Wistow Woods			42	103	SSSI
21	Waresley Wood			62	153	SSSI
22	Weaveley and Sand Woods			76	188	SSSI
23	West, Abbot's and Lound Woods			51	126	SSSI

Cheshire

Cheshire has some 4% of its area under woodland - around half the national average. Since 1994 the Mersey Community Forest has been promoting new woodland planting within the Merseyside and Cheshire region to alleviate this deficit, and also better manage the existing woodland to secure its future. Cheshire has less ancient woodland, and in smaller units than most counties. Many of the ancient woodlands survive in steep valleys or cloughs, of small extent. Taylor's Rough, Wellmeadow Wood, Warburton's Wood And Well Wood are examples of clough woodland too small for inclusion in this list. Most of the ancient woodland in the county is in units smaller than 10 ha (25 acres) and 65% of the area is in woods smaller than 5 ha (12 acres). The list below is of ancient woodland larger than 10 ha (25 acres).

Some of the principal Ancient Woods in Cheshire

No.	Woodland	Public access	Grid ref. & map link	Area (ha)	Area (acre)	Citation website
1	Peckforton Woods	Yes		54	130	SSSI
2	Roe Park Woods	Yes		34.6	85	SSSI Wildlife Trust
3	Wettenhall and Darnhall Woods			52.6	130	SSSI
4	Wimboldsley Wood			19	47	SSSI

City of London

No Ancient Woodland remains in the City of London although the City of London Corporation are directly responsible for large areas of woodland elsewhere, notably Epping Forest (Essex), Highgate Wood (Greater London) and Burnham Beeches (Bucks)

Cornwall

The county of Cornwall has woodland representing 7.5% of the Land Area.

Steeple Woods -16.2 Ha (40 acres)

Devichoys Wood -16 Ha (40 acres)

Cumbria

9.5% of the land area of Cumbria is woodland.

• Whinfell Forest

D

Derbyshire

Devon

• Wistman's Wood

Dorset

• Duncliffe Wood
• Holt Heath
• Powerstock Common
• Thorncombe Wood

Durham

• Brignall Banks SSSI
• Castle Eden Dene SSSI and NNR
• Hawthorn Dene SSSI
• Hesleden Dene
• Deepdale Wood
• Pontburn Woods
• Derwent Gorge SSSI and NNR

E

East Riding of Yorkshire

• Burton Bushes in Beverley Westwood

East Sussex

16.7% of the land area of East Sussex is woodland.

Essex

• Epping Forest
• Hadleigh Woods
• Hockley Woods SSSI
• Hatfield Forest SSSI
• Nevendon Bushes
• Norsey Woods

G

Gloucestershire

11.2% of the land area of Gloucestershire is woodland.

• Forest of Dean
• Lower Woods

Greater London

• Bluebell Wood
• Cherry Tree Wood
• Coldfall Wood
• Highgate Wood
• Lesnes Abbey Woods
• Oxleas Wood SSSI
• Queen's Wood
• Ruislip Woods NNR
• Great North Wood
• Scratchwood

Greater Manchester

• Borsdane Wood

H

Hampshire

17.7% of the Land Area of Hampshire is woodland.

• New Forest

Herefordshire

Hertfordshire

9.5% of Hertfordshire's land area is woodland.

• Ashridge Estate
• Benington High Wood
• Birchanger Wood, near Bishop's Stortford
• Broxbourne Woods NNR, near Broxbourne
• Bush Wood
• Knebworth Woods
• Northaw Great Wood
• Sherrardspark Wood, near Welwyn Garden City
• Whippendell Wood, 65 ha (160 acres), Watford

I

Isle of Wight

In 2012 the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership commissioned a revised Ancient Woodland Inventory for the island, and this was completed in 2014. This has a list of all identified ancient woodland sites on the Isle of Wight.

• Brading Wood, part of the Brading Marshes RSPB reserve
• Parkhurst Forest

K

Kent

10.6% of Kent's land area is wooded, and it has more ancient woodland than any other county.

• Barrows Wood, Trundle Wood and High Wood around Wormshill
• Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI
• Cobham Woods
• Combwell Wood
• Darenth Wood SSSI
• East Blean Woods NNR
• Ham Street Woods NNR
• Parsonage Wood SSSI
• Robins Wood SSSI
• South Blean
• West Blean NNR
• Westerham Wood SSSI
• Yockletts Bank SSSI

L

Lancashire

• Boilton, Nab, Red Scar & Tun Brook woods, Preston

Leicestershire

It is estimated that 2% of Leicestershire's land area is ancient woodland, of which half has been replaced by new plantings in recent times. There are over 100 woods in Leicestershire believed to be ancient. The sites listed below are those over 10 ha (25 acres) in size, and with one exception, all have SSSI status. With one group of woods near Hinckley, in the south-west, the remainder fall into three broad areas. In East Leicestershire, close to the border with Rutland, are the woods near Leighfield Forest, an extensive Royal Forest which straddled the two counties. North west of Leicester are the woods of Charnwood Forest. Further west are the woods of the coal measures toward the border with Derbyshire.

Neighbouring counties

Derbys.	Notts.	Lincs.
Staffs. Warks.	Leicestershire.	Rutland
Warks.	Northants.	Northants.

Some of the principal Ancient Woods in Leicestershire

No.	Woodland	Public access	Location	Area (ha)	Area (acre)	Designation
1	Allexton Wood	No		26	64	SSSI
2	Buddon Wood, Quorn	No		45	111	SSSI
3	Burbage and Sheepy Woods	Yes		52	128	SSSI Local Gov.
4	Cloud Wood, Breedon	Yes		35	86	SSSI Wildlife Trust
5	Dimminsdale	Yes		16	40	SSSI Wildlife Trust
6	Eye Brook Valley Woods	Yes (part)		68	168	SSSI Wildlife Trust
7	Grace Dieu Wood			52	128	SSSI National Forest
8	Hangingstone and Out Woods	Yes (part)		88	217	SSSI Local Gov.
9	Launde Big Wood and Launde Park Wood	Yes		80	198	SSSI Wildlife Trust
10	Martinshaw Wood	Yes		103	255	Woodland Trust
11	Owston Woods			141	348	SSSI
12	Pasture and Asplin Woods, Breedon			42	104	SSSI
13	Skeffington and Tilton Woods (Leighfield Forest)			153	378	SSSI
14	Swithland Wood	Yes		75	185	SSSI

Lincolnshire

• Bradley and Dixon Woods, Grimsby
• Legbourne Wood, Legbourne, Louth
• Stapleford Woods, Stapleford, North Kesteven
• Reddings Woods, Kirkby on Bain, Lincolnshire, East Lindsey

M

Merseyside

• Dibbinsdale, Wirral Hundred, Merseyside

N

Norfolk

• Foxley Wood
• Wayland Wood

North Yorkshire

• Grass Wood, Wharfedale
• Nidd Gorge, Knaresborough

Northamptonshire

The ancient woods of Northants are concentrated towards the south and west of the county, to that region bordering Bucks, Oxford and Beds. Many are managed by the Forestry Commission, although others are in private hands. They tend to occur on limestone soils in elevated country, and exhibit a diversity of habitats.

• Hazleborough Wood, part of Whittlewood Forest
• Royal Forest of Rockingham
• Salcey Forest
• Whittlewood Forest
• Yardley Chase SSSI

Northumberland

• Allen Banks and Steward Gorge
• Whittle Dene

Nottinghamshire

• Sherwood Forest

O

Oxfordshire

The ancient woods of Oxfordshire are concentrated in three distinct areas. In the south are woods of the Chiltern Hills. A second cluster lies to the east of Oxford. The Cotswolds woods on the western side of the county include those in the Royal Forest of Wychwood. Oxfordshire has nearly 18,000 ha (44,000 acres) of woodland in total (6.9% of its area), two-thirds of which are in woods of over 10 ha (25 acres). 1,839 ha (4,540 acres) of woodland is represented in the 17 ancient woods listed below. Some 6,000 ha (15,000 acres) of woodland is split among the 3,390 woods smaller than 10 ha. Many of these smaller woods may be ancient, but are not covered by this list. The list here covers woods of over 10 ha with SSSI status.

Some of the principal Ancient Woods in Oxfordshire

No.	Woodland	Public access	Location & map link	Area (ha)	Area (acre)	Status
1	Aston Rowant Woods	Yes (part)		26	64	SSSI
2	Bear, Oveys and Great Bottom Woods			45	111	SSSI
3	Bould Wood			52	128	SSSI
4	Harpsden Wood	Yes		35	86	SSSI Woodland Trust
5	Holly Wood LNR			16	40	SSSI
6	Holton Wood			68	168	SSSI
7	Lambridge Wood			52	128	SSSI
8	Out Wood			88	217	SSSI
9	Pishill Woods			80	198	SSSI
10	Sarsgrove Wood			103	255	SSSI
11	Stanton Great Wood			141	348	SSSI
12	Sturt Copse			42	104	SSSI
13	Waterperry Wood			153	378	SSSI
14	Whitecross Green and Oriel Woods			75	185	SSSI Wildlife Trust
15	Woodeaton Wood			976	2,412	SSSI
16	Wychwood			530	1,310	SSSI Wildlife Trust Wychwood Project
17	Wytham Woods			61	151	SSSI

R

Rutland

• Burley Wood
• Prior's Coppice

S

Shropshire

• Wyre Forest NNR (also in Worcestershire)

Somerset

Somerset is a rural county of rolling hills such as the Blackdown Hills, Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park, and large flat expanses of land including the Somerset Levels. Many of the woodland areas have been designated as SSSIs with some being managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust or Somerset Wildlife Trust. Woodland covers seven per cent of the land area of the county.

Some of the principal Ancient Woods in Somerset

Woodland	Public access	Coordinates and map link	Area (ha)	Area (acre)	Designation	'Citations
Aller and Beer Woods		51°04′15″N 2°51′07″W / 51.0707°N 2.8520°W / 51.0707; -2.8520 (Aller and Beer Woods)	56.9	141	SSSI
Asham Wood		51°12′45″N 2°25′25″W / 51.2124°N 2.4237°W / 51.2124; -2.4237 (Asham Wood)	140.6	347	SSSI
Cheddar Wood	Permit required	51°17′36″N 2°47′50″W / 51.2932°N 2.7973°W / 51.2932; -2.7973 (Cheddar Wood)	86.9	215	SSSI
Cogley Wood		51°06′32″N 2°25′32″W / 51.1090°N 2.4256°W / 51.1090; -2.4256 (Cogley Wood)	60.7	150	SSSI
Dunkery and Horner Woods	Yes	51°09′43″N 3°35′15″W / 51.1619°N 3.5874°W / 51.1619; -3.5874 (Dunkery and Horner Woods)	1,604	3,964	SSSI, NNR
Edford Woods and Meadows		51°14′05″N 2°28′52″W / 51.2347°N 2.4812°W / 51.2347; -2.4812 (Edford Woods and Meadows)	54.3	134	SSSI
Great Breach and Copley Woods		51°05′06″N 2°42′55″W / 51.0851°N 2.7152°W / 51.0851; -2.7152 (Great Breach and Copley Woods)	64.8	160	SSSI
Harridge Wood
Hawkcombe Woods		51°12′06″N 3°35′36″W / 51.2017°N 3.5933°W / 51.2017; -3.5933 (Hawkcombe Woods)	101	250	Proposed NNR
North Exmoor	Yes	51°10′25″N 3°43′04″W / 51.1736°N 3.7179°W / 51.1736; -3.7179 (North Exmoor)	12,005.3	29,666	SSSI
Leigh Woods	Yes	51°27′47″N 2°38′21″W / 51.4631°N 2.6392°W / 51.4631; -2.6392 (Leigh Woods)	155.4	384	SSSI, NNR
Limebreach Wood		51°26′59″N 2°46′11″W / 51.4498°N 2.7698°W / 51.4498; -2.7698 (Limebreach Wood)
Longleat Woods		51°11′25″N 2°17′41″W / 51.1903°N 2.2947°W / 51.1903; -2.2947 (Longleat Woods)	249.9	618	SSSI
Long Dole Wood and Meadows		51°18′13″N 2°33′39″W / 51.3036°N 2.5608°W / 51.3036; -2.5608 (Long Dole Wood and Meadows)	9.8	24	SSSI
Neroche Forest		50°56′15″N 3°02′12″W / 50.9375°N 3.0367°W / 50.9375; -3.0367 (Neroche Forest)
Postlebury Wood		51°11′08″N 2°22′24″W / 51.1856°N 2.3734°W / 51.1856; -2.3734 (Postlebury Wood)	87	215	SSSI
Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood		50°56′50″N 3°06′09″W / 50.9471°N 3.1026°W / 50.9471; -3.1026 (Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood)	103.6	256	SSSI
Sparkford Wood		51°02′44″N 2°33′12″W / 51.0455°N 2.5534°W / 51.0455; -2.5534 (Sparkford Wood)	8.4	21	SSSI
Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands		50°59′01″N 3°02′29″W / 50.9837°N 3.0413°W / 50.9837; -3.0413 (Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands)	26.7	66	SSSI
Towerhouse Wood		51°26′39″N 2°45′22″W / 51.4441°N 2.7561°W / 51.4441; -2.7561 (Towerhouse Wood)
Twinhills Woods and Meadows		51°11′11″N 2°38′02″W / 51.1863°N 2.6338°W / 51.1863; -2.6338 (Twinhills Woods and Meadows)	21.2	52	SSSI
Weston Big Wood	Yes	51°28′17″N 2°47′10″W / 51.4713°N 2.7860°W / 51.4713; -2.7860 (Weston Big Wood)	37.48	93	SSSI

South Yorkshire

• Bagger Wood
• Beeley Wood
• Watchley Crags

Staffordshire

• Cannock Chase SSSI

Suffolk

• Arger Fen and Spouses Grove
• Assington Thicks
• Bradfield Woods NNR
• Bull's Wood
• Foxburrow Wood (Suffolk)
• Palant's Grove
• Snakes Wood
• Staverton Park and the Thicks
• Wolves Wood

Surrey

22.4% of the Land Area of Surrey is woodland this makes it the most wooded county in England.

T

Tyne and Wear

• Thornley Wood SSSI
• Derwent Walk Country Park woods
• Stanley Burn Wood
• Snipes Dene Wood, part of Gibside SSSI
• Lands Wood, Winlaton Mill

W

Warwickshire

• Bush Wood
• Rough Hill Wood
• Ryton Wood SSSI

West Midlands

• Sutton Park SSSI
• Rough Wood

West Sussex

18.9% of West Sussex's land area is woodland.

• Titnore Wood
• Kingley Vale NNR

West Yorkshire

• Batty's Wood

Wiltshire

• Savernake forest SSSI
• Vincients Wood

Worcestershire

• Grafton Wood
• Laight Rough
• Pepper Wood
• Shrawley Wood
• Wyre Forest (also in Shropshire)