British wildwood

British wildwood, or simply the wildwood, is the wholly natural landscape which developed across major parts of England after the last ice age. This woodland had not yet been affected by human intervention, and was home to many species which are not now found in England, such as elk and brown bears. Over centuries, starting in the Neolithic period, this wildwood gradually gave way to open plains and fields as human populations increased and began to exploit and develop the land to their advantage.

Most of the areas of woodland that remain in England descend from the original wildwood, but are now in a semi-natural state due to being managed and controlled, including as a source of timber. These are known as ancient woodland. True wildwood is thought to be no longer extant in the UK.[1][2]

Beginning of the British Wildwood

At the end of the latest glacial period, due to the recent glacial activity the land would be extremely barren. Throughout the barren land flora would begin to form as the climate slowly began to change. Through information gathered by pollen and seed deposits in peat and the use of radiocarbon dating, the flora that began to form during Britain's post-glacial period can be determined.[3]

Introduction of tree species

The introduction of flora would eventually lead to several tree species being introduced that began spreading throughout the southern region while the glacial ice retreated further north. At first only conifer trees grew, as well as birch, aspen, sycamore, and alder. Since then the tundra climate began to warm where deciduous tree species began to overtake the conifers. Some of the deciduous trees that have been identified include: Oak, lime, elm, holly, ash, beech, hornbeam, and maple. Eventually the deciduous trees would make their way further north, except for Beech and Lime as they would become native to only southern Britain.[4][5]

Climate of the Wildwood

From about 8000 BC to about between 4300 and 3100 BC ran the Atlantic climatic period. This was a period of stability during which the various species now introduced throughout Britain have begun to form the British Wildwoods. By about 6000 BC it is believed that the Wildwoods was at a maximum number of trees.[6]

Animal Species

Extinct or Rare species

The British Wildwood housed many animals that are now considered extinct or very rare. Such animals include the Beaver, Wild Boar, Water Voles, Goshawk, Pine Martin, Dormouse, Roe Deer, Red Kite, Turtle Dove, Wolf, Red Squirrel, Osprey, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Lynx, White-tailed Eagle, and Wild Horses. Of these animals, the White-Tailed Eagle, Lynx, Goshawk has been reintroduced in southern Britain.[7]

Species that can still be found today

There have been however, animals that existed during the Wildwood period, and still exist to this day throughout Britain. Such animals include: Bees, Black Grouse, Curlew, Hedgehog, Lapwing, Mountain Hare, Natterjack Toad, Red Fox, Red Deer, Ring Ouzel, Salmon. Since the eradication of natural British Wildwood, none of the animals that still exist today are naturally from natural wildwood.[8]

Structure of the Wildwoods

The British Wildwoods due to its sheer number of varied plant life would be believed to have varying tree line heights. Due to the sheer number of trees and density, the canopy growth would be very thick and lead to various popular claims that a squirrel could run across the top without touching the ground. Despite the canopy growth and tree lines, the British wildwoods would be more likely to be dotted around with spots of grasslands where herbivores would graze.[9]

End of the British Wildwood

The end of the British Wildwoods is mostly due to human activity all throughout the ages. First major impacts on the woodlands would occur around 6000 BC when agriculture had arrived in Britain and space had to be cleared. As populations grew more wildwood would need to be cleared. It is believed that at the start of the Iron Age in Britain, about 50% of the British Wildwood would have been cleared. From the Middle Ages up to the early modern period about 10% of the Wildwoods would be left due to Human intervention.[10]

References
  1. "Ancient Woodland". Exmoor National Park, UK. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. "An Introduction to Britain's Lost Wildwood". South Coast Central: A Guide To England's South-Central Region. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  3. "Tree surveys and reports for safety & development planning - Bucks Plant Care Ltd - Information". www.bucksplantcare.co.uk.
  4. "Tree surveys and reports for safety & development planning - Bucks Plant Care Ltd - Information". www.bucksplantcare.co.uk. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. "An Introduction To Britain's Lost Wildwood". www.south-coast-central.co.uk. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. "Atlantic (period)". Wikipedia. 14 September 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  7. "Cambrian Wildwood: Species". Cambrian Wildwood. Wales Wild Land Foundation. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  8. "Cambrian Wildwood: Species". Cambrian Wildwood. Wales Wild Land Foundation. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. "An Introduction To Britain's Lost Wildwood". www.south-coast-central.co.uk. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  10. "Tree surveys and reports for safety & development planning - Bucks Plant Care Ltd - Information". www.bucksplantcare.co.uk. Bucks Plant Care. Retrieved November 29, 2020.


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