Trees and Woodlands
There are 212,000 ha of woodland in the South West, covering 9% of the region’s land area (an area equivalent to over three times the area of Exmoor National Park), just over the English average of 7.5%. This area of woodland has almost doubled over the last 100 years and is still increasing. In the last 10 years over 10,000ha of new woodland has been planted in the region (Forestry Commission, 2007).
Within the region, woodland cover varies significantly. Woodland coverage is greatest in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire (11%) whilst lowest in South Hams, Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. (Defra, 2007)
Ancient woodland and trees represent a living cultural heritage, a natural equivalent to our great churches and castles. They are also our richest wildlife habitat and are highly valued by people as places of tranquility and inspiration. The South West contains over 20% (around 73,000 ha) of England's ancient woodland resource and its protection and management is a high priority identified in the South West Regional Woodland and Forestry Framework. Four Ancient Woodland Priority Areas have been identified on Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds. These priority areas identify core sites of ancient woodland networks in the region where landscape connectivity and permeability offers exceptional opportunities to link and extend ancient woodlands (Forestry Commission, 2006).
The Woods and Trees Under Threat website identifies 21 woodlands and individual trees of importance in the South West that have or are being threatened by development. In February 2007, 7 of these sites had been saved, 4 lost or partially lost and 10 ongoing (Woodland Trust, 2008).
More information about trees and woodlands is available from the South West Observatory Environment website. Woodland and field boundaries are also indicators used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.