Ancient Woodlands on the Map
Jan 29, 2010
Contact Name: vicky Whitaker
Contact email: vickywhitaker@sussexwt.org.uk
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre has been hosting the Weald and Downs Ancient Woodland Survey of West Sussex, the results of which were launched on the 29th of January at County Hall. This two year project has used the latest technology alongside ancient maps and high quality ecological expertise to map Ancient Woodland in West Sussex.
As a result of this survey over 3,741 hectares of previously unidentified ancient woodland has been added to the inventory which will result in stronger legal protection for this threatened and irreplaceable habitat. This means that a staggering 10.5% of West Sussex is actually covered by Ancient Woodland (the national average is 2.6%).
The project has been possible because of the generous support of West Sussex County Council, the Forestry Commission, Natural England, The South Downs Joint Committee, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Chichester District Council, Horsham District Council, Arun District Council, Adur District Council, Crawley Borough Council and Brighton and Hove City Council.
Using historical maps and looking at the species found in Woodlands the West Sussex Ancient Woodland Project Officer has been able to identify how long each woodland has been in existence. If it has been present since 1600 it is classified as Ancient Woodland. Well known species like bluebell and wood anemones, denote the longevity of a woodland at a site, also lesser known species like three veined sandwort and wild service tree. It takes a well trained eye to identify these often conspicuous species.
Victoria Hume, the Ancient Woodland Project Officer states that “from the tiniest Ghyll woodlands to large plantations, each woodland that I have visited over the past two years has been fascinating, with the species and archaeology telling their own story about the site’s history.”
The landscape and cultural history of West Sussex means that there is a particularly high concentration of small Ancient Woodlands (under two hectares in size). Without this project these sites would be under continual threat from piecemeal development.
