What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a reflection of what we are doing to one another.
Mahatma Gandhi
In this article, we will review the significance of woodlands and forests in the UK by looking at their characteristics, features, and unique recreational activities that visitors can experience while they are there.
🌳 The Rich Tapestry of UK Woodlands
🍃Ancient Woodlands
There are two major characteristics of ancient woodlands: open canopies (the highest layer of leaves and branches of the trees) and a long, continuous history. 1
In the UK, ancient woodlands are defined by different historical timelines in the following locations:
England, Wales, and Northern England: Existed since 1600
Scotland: Existed since 1750
While ancient woodlands make up 2.5% of the UK's land, they are each distinctive and play a significant role in maintaining a rich biodiversity of rare flora and fauna that are irreplaceable. 2
🍃 Public Forests and Forest Parks
Another source of UK forests is public forests (in England and Wales) and forest parks (mostly in Scotland). Unlike ancient woodlands, they are established and created much later through planned afforestation, around the 20th century in the UK.
They play a significant role in promoting landscape conservation and recreation, while also supporting sustainable timber production through ongoing forest management.
Here's an overview of the differences between woodlands and public forests in the UK.
| Feature | Ancient Woodlands | Forest Parks / Public Forests |
|---|---|---|
| Age / Origin | Continuous woodland since at least 1600 in England & Wales, 1750 in Scotland; naturally regenerated | Established mostly in the 20th century through planned afforestation; often on cleared or previously non-wooded land |
| Management | Primarily conservation-focused; selective, minimal intervention | Multi-use management: recreation, conservation, sustainable timber production; active forestry practices |
| Biodiversity | High; often contains specialist native species, rare plants, fungi, and insects | Moderate; often planted with conifers or mixed species; some areas managed to encourage native wildlife |
| Structure / Canopy | Irregular, multi-layered canopy, rich understory and ground flora | Can be more uniform; some open spaces for recreation; plantations often single-species or mixed-age trees |
| Human Use | Limited public access to protect sensitive ecosystems; valued for ecological and historical importance | Designed for public recreation and tourism: walking, cycling, horse riding, camping, educational trails |
| Examples | Epping Forest (England), Sherwood Forest remnants , Fettes Wood (Scotland) | Galloway Forest Park (Scotland), Cairngorms Forest Park , Kielder Forest (England), Afan Forest Park (Wales) |
🌲Notable Forests Across the UK
Now, let's discover some of the most beautiful forests in the UK, from England, Scotland, to Wales.
📍England
It's fitting to begin our list with Sherwood Forest, a beautiful ancient woodland that was once used as a royal hunting ground. Besides being home to approximately 1,000 types of ancient oaks, the forest boasts a wonderful landscape and a rich biodiversity of fungi, insects, and even mammals.
There are many activities to enjoy here, as there's something for everyone. Whether it's cycling and walking or meeting the iconic Major Oak. Visitors are bound to have a memorable time immersing themselves in the rich history and natural beauty.
Important note: Sherwood Forest is now designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) protected under European law. Every 18 months, the trees are inspected by an independent tree health consultant to protect and conserve the forest.
Let's continue with our second recommendation in England.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest is a haven for tree lovers, especially conifers. Established in 1925, it is a world-leading centre for conifer conservation and offers extensive family-friendly recreation and ecological education.
Open all year long, except on Christmas Day, the Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest provides many guided educational tours for students and families.
Additionally, the forest is an ideal place for outdoor adventure, where visitors can enjoy various activity trails and engage in the Go Ape Bedgebury through the thrills of a 70-metre zip line and canopy-height crossings.
📍Scotland
Next, let's switch gears to Scotland.
You certainly cannot miss out on visiting Galloway Forest Park, the largest forest park in the UK. Consisting of 16 forests, this place promises more than a visual feast of natural beauty, but also refreshing outdoor activities like the following:
Mountainbiking
Wildlife sighting
Observing stars at night
Special highlight: Did you know that Galloway Forest Park became one of the first in the world to earn the designation of International Dark Sky Park? It is one of the best places in the UK for stargazing and astronomy. 3
Meanwhile, discover the beauty of various national parks in the UK.
One of the oldest woodlands in Britain, Abernethy Forest is a part of a national nature reserve within the Cairngorms National Park. It is carefully managed by the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) to preserve and protect the wildlife and native pinewood in Britain.
Some examples of trees and animals that visitors can expect to see here include the King Pine, red squirrels, and ospreys. The forest is also easily accessible, catering to visitors who face challenges with mobility
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📍Wales
Located 17 miles from Carmarthen, Brechfa Forest is a beautiful forest that balances outdoor recreation, timber production, and the production of wind energy. Besides being known as a royal forest that was used for hunting, Brechfa Forest was also a main source of timber during World War I.
It offers various walking and mountain bike trails of varied difficulty levels and even different views.
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While you are in Wales, be sure to explore Wentwood Forest. Besides being one of the largest ancient woodlands in Wales, it has a wide wildlife diversity, boasting over 70 species of birds and 23 species of butterflies.
Like Brechfa Forest, it also plays a significant role in Wales' growing timber industry, where the forest is constantly being replanted with fast-growing conifers and native broadleaves. 4
🤝 Conservation and Management of UK Forests
If you are passionate about past and ongoing conservation efforts of UK forests, here are some platforms that you can look into.
🌱The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)
If you want to know the official guidelines for sustainable forest management regardless of ownership, the UK Forestry Standard should be your go-to. Under the UKFS, elements of sustainable forest management include:
- Biodiversity
- Climate change
- Historic environment
- Landscape
- People
- Soil
- Water
🌱 Recent Initiatives
In recent years, many national-level government agencies have collaborated with conservation organisations and charities to boost plantations and sustainability efforts for forests across the UK.
Established in 1995, The National Forest is a specific woodland creation project and charity in England. Every year, the organisation plants 200 hectares of new Forest habitats.
Here are some tree plantation examples:
- Forestry England's completion of a 1.8 million-tree woodland creation programme across 16 new woodlands in England, from Northumberland and Cumbria to Norfolk and Devon in 2025. 5
- The tree planting of more than 100,000 trees by the National Trust and local volunteers to establish new forests in North Devon to boost Celtic rainforests. 6
Additionally, the National Trust also participate in woodland forest restoration projects to ensure high-quality forestry and soil quality to maintain the forest biodiversity and wellbeing of the local community.
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☀️ Recreational Activities in British Forests
Here are some fun recreational activities you can enjoy while you're at a forest, whether you’re travelling solo or going on a trip with family or friends.
🚶Walking and Hiking
Many UK forests offer popular walking and hiking trails with great accessibility and varied difficulty levels.
For example, Sherwood Forest has three major walking trails of different distances and durations:
- The Major Oak Trail ( Distance: 1.5 miles | Approximate time: 45 mins)
- Greenwood Trail (Distance: 2 miles | Approximate time: 1 hour 15 mins)
- Wildwood Trail (Distance: 4 miles | Approximate time: 2 hours 30 mins)
On the other hand, Galloway Forest Park also offers gentle strolls and scenic walks while you're there, including during winter. Whether you're up for a hike to Bruce's Stone or a more challenging trail to the Polmaddy Settlement Trail, you need to dress lightly and have a good pair of shoes to brace the forest terrain.
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🦌Wildlife Watching
As for wildlife, there are various species that you can find and watch in the forests, depending on your preferences.
Some examples include:
- Woodland birds
- Scottish hornbill
- Water birds (especially near lakes)
- Red deer
- Red squirrels
It's important to practice safe and ethical wildlife watching in the forests to minimise disturbances to the animals.
🏕️ Forest Holidays
If you want to fully immerse yourself in nature, you can plan a forest holiday with family or a solo nature retreat. Whether you are opting to stay within or near the forest itself, be sure to review the activities and amenities available so that you know what to expect, the dos and don'ts while you're there.
Many visitors usually book to stay at cosy cabins via the Forest Holidays platform based on 13 forest locations across the UK.
🏞️ The Future of UK Forests
When we look at the future of UK forests, there are two ways to look at it: the potential of certain threats, as well as actions that we can take to overcome them.
🚧 Challenges Faced by UK Forests
The key threats that UK forests are facing, and might continue to face, include:
Deforestation
- Drastic forest clearance for development and logging
Climate change
- Rising temperatures and acid rain would lead to different soil conditions
Pests and diseases
- Invasive pests, unmonitored tree health (abandoned forest)
In the long run, these threats could cause negative impacts on the forest biodiversity and the overall ecosystem.
💪 Conservation Efforts and How to Get Involved
Despite the challenges, many organisations and charities are working hard to lead various conservation initiatives. Here are some examples:
Having said that, anyone can participate in conservation initiatives. For instance, you could donate to a conservation charity, volunteer with one of the forests listed in this article, and participate in tree planting activities at the nearest forest in your city.
We hope you have found this article insightful. If you are keen to learn more about British forests and biodiversity in the UK, you can connect with an experienced Geography tutor on Superprof to enhance your knowledge about this topic. Mastering Geography has never been so easy!
References
- Woodland Trust. (2020). Ancient Woodland - British Habitats. Woodland Trust. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/ancient-woodland/
- Woodlands | National Forest. (2024). National Forest. https://www.nationalforest.org/explore/woodlands
- standardPage. (2026). Our forest parks | Forestry and Land Scotland. Gov.scot. https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks
- Wentwood Forest | GOV.WALES. (2024). GOV.WALES. https://www.gov.wales/national-forest/wentwood-forest
- Forestry Commission. (2017, December 21). The UK Forestry Standard. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard
- Grierson, J. (2025, January 29). Thousands of trees planted in Devon to start creation of Celtic rainforest. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/29/thousands-of-trees-planted-in-devon-to-start-creation-of-celtic-rainforest
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