Woodland
Woodland and forests cover about 22% of the North York Moors National Park – that’s over 300 square kilometres of trees!
In fact the North York Moors is the most densely wooded National Park in England and Wales, but that’s nothing! After the last Ice Age ended, about 10,000 years ago, trees and shrubs began to grow…and grow…and grow, until a forest of Scots pine, oak, birch, hazel and alder trees covered almost all of Britain. This ‘Wild Wood’ was home to many wild animals, including some that are now extinct in Britain such as wolves and wild boar.
So where did all the trees go?
When the first Stone Age people came to the North York Moors about 8000 years ago, they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. By the Iron Age (about 4000 years ago) people were learning how to farm crops and animals. Trees were cut and burned down to make clearings for farms. The population grew and the removal of trees continued. By the Middle Ages, most of the woodland had disappeared.
Natural or native woodland in Britain is very special and today we should look after it and encourage people to plant more native trees. The Forestry Commission is an organisation that owns much of the woodland in Britain. This organisation plants trees and looks after woodland for three reasons:
- to produce timber for people to use
- to provide a home for wildlife
- to provide a place for people to enjoy recreational activities such as walking and cycling.
Find out more
What are ancient, veteren and heritage trees? (pdf)
Broadleaved and mixed woodland
How does the National Park Authority help care for woodland?
