18Woodland creation
Woodlands are among our most beautiful landscape features. However, Britain is one of
the least wooded countries in Europe. In the last 60 years almost half of our remaining
ancient woodlands have been destroyed. It is possible to plant trees and shrubs to create
an area which looks, smells and feels like a real woodland within 20- 30 years.
Choosing a place to plant your wood
Planting a new wood
New woods can be planted in a wide variety of
places from school grounds and parks to farmland,
or as part of an industrial or housing development.
Areas close to existing woodland can be allowed to
grow up naturally. Seek advice if you are planning
to plant a large area (contact the Forest of Avon,
Woodland Trust or the Forestry Commission).
Wherever you choose to create a woodland,
remember these points.
New woods should be planned to reflect natural
woodland with different layers of trees, shrubs and
wildflowers. The diagram shows a suitable planting
plan to create this natural structure.
Don’t
plant your wood on an area that is
already good for wildlife. For example
a wildflower meadow would be destroyed if trees
were to grow over it.
~3m
canopy tree
~1m
~1m
centre
shrub
edge
shrub
Do
find out where services, such as gas pipes
and electricity pylons run and plant well
away from them. Check with your local council or
your local utility companies.
Don’t
Don’t
Don’t
Do
plant wide rooting trees such as
willows and poplars near buildings.
plant in a built up area if your trees will
overshadow someone’s house or garden.
plant big trees such as oak or ash on a
small site.
choose trees which are native. Try not to
plant trees which are not found naturally in
your area.
Do
consider planting fruit trees such as old
varieties of apple, plum or pear to create a
community orchard. Later you can involve people in
apple pressing, juice making and wassailing.
Planting plan for a natural woodland
How to Plant
Œ

Ž
Plant trees in winter when the roots are
dormant.
Plant trees at 2-3 metre intervals. Shrubs
should be planted between the trees at
distances of 1-1.5 metres.
Plant light-loving trees and shrubs, such as
blackthorn, dog rose and field maple at the
edges. Shrubs which enjoy shade, such as hazel,
holly, hawthorn and wild privet, should be planted
in the centre.
Natural woods have different layers


Plant tall-growing trees such as oak and ash.
These will reach a reasonable height in about
25 years!
To create a woodland effect more quickly,
plant fast-growing trees such as birch, willow
or alder. These will create a woodland effect within
about 10-15 years.
For details on tree planting see ‘Planting Trees and
Shrubs’ (WAP20)
Examples of trees and shrubs to plant
Shrubs (edge types)
blackthorn
dog rose
field maple*
Shrubs (centre types)
hazel
holly
hawthorn
wild privet*
Canopy trees
oak
ash
wild cherry
Fast-growing trees
birch
alder
willows
* Not common in Scotland - consult your local Wildlife
Trust for details of trees and shrubs which occur locally.
Improving existing areas of trees
Simple changes can transform old trees in parks and
gardens into new woodlands for wildlife.
Œ

Ž
Allow the grass around the base of the
old trees to grow up. With luck woodland
wildflowers will begin to blossom.
Ž
Weed around new trees and shrubs to
stop competition for food, water and light
from brambles and grasses. This problem can be
dramatically reduced by mulching around the newly
planted trees with bark chippings.

As your woodland develops it may start to
become crowded, so you will have to thin the
trees. This involves removing the smaller or weaker
trees and shrubs to give the more successful ones a
chance to survive. See the ‘Woodland Management’
project (WAP19).
Making your wood a better place for
wildlife
Once the trees and shrubs have become established,
there are lots of things you can do to make your
wood a better place for wildlife.
Œ

Introduce dead wood - this is very important
to woodland wildlife. Log piles make ideal
habitats for insects, frogs and hedgehogs.
In urban areas, you can plant a mix of native
woodland wildflowers. Primroses, violets,
native bluebells, wood anemone and ramsons may
do well. See the ‘Suppliers’ section (WAP09).
Ž
If your wood is big, you can create open areas
such as glades and rides. These are good for
bringing light and warmth into your woodland. This
will be attractive to many plants and animals, and
especially butterflies.
Plant shrubs that enjoy shade, such as hazel
and holly, beneath the trees.
Plant some replacements for the existing
trees. Make sure they are of the same type.
For example, if you have an area of oak, plant a
sprinkling of oak saplings among the shrubs.

Make sure you keep the new trees and
shrubs well watered during their first year conditions could be hostile to start with.
Looking after a new wood
It is important to look after a newly planted wood.
Œ
Prune shrubs down to 40-60cm in the first
winter after planting. This will stimulate bushy
growth and provide cover and nesting sites for
wildlife.

Water regularly, especially during the first
summer. Shrubs may die and will need to be
replaced during the following Winter.
Woodland ride and glade (Lower Woods nature reserve)
Long-term future of the woodland
It is important to consider the long-term management
of your new woodland - see the ‘Woodland
Management’ project (WAP19).
Useful links
www.forestofavontrust.org
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
www.forestry.gov.uk
Related projects: Woodland management (WAP19) • Planting trees and shrubs
(WAP20) • Hedgerow planting (WAP21) Suppliers (WAP09) • Site facilities (WAP30)
18 Woodland creation...................................................................................... 2
www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk • 0117 917 7271 • [email protected] • Reg. charity No. 280422