Recent woodland

Recent woodland now makes up most of the 5% of woodland that covers London. Many have been formed through colonisation of cleared ground or have been planted as plantations and then left to develop naturally without any form of management. Most are typically comprised of ash, sycamore or a varied mix of native and non-native species. London’s recent woods have a less varied wildlife than ancient woodland but are particularly important for many of London’s birds that forage in parks and gardens for providing breeding habitat. Recent woodlands are scattered throughout London from backlands to parks and railway linesides.

What is recent woodland?
Recent woodland is woodland that has developed over the last 400 years or so, from previously cleared land. Many are much younger than this, having developed in the last century. They, like ancient woodlands are composed of a wide range of plant types including trees and shrubs, climbers, perennial herbs, bulbs and grasses, although ash, sycamore, silver birch, bramble and common nettle are typically abundant. Dead wood is also an important component, supporting numerous fungi species and invertebrates.

Whose habitat is it?
Recent woodlands are home to many species of fauna and flora particularly birds and bats. Many of our common garden birds like robin and blue tit are traditionally woodland species and London’s recent woodlands provide valuable breeding space for them. Bats species in London thrive in our small pockets of recent woodland where large trees are present. Tree and shrub diversity is typically higher in recent woodlands than in ancient woodlands and often includes non-native species like sycamore, Norway maple and holm oak. In some ways this adds to their value attracting different invertebrates. Ground flora is typically less diverse and bramble, ivy and common nettle are usually dominant. Despite this, many birds, mammals, fungi and flowers survive in these pockets of woodland.

Conservation issues
Like ancient woodland, these woodlands are threatened through development, increased human pressure as well as garden escapes and non-native species. Bramble and common nettle are becoming more invasive in these woodlands particularly those close to housing through increasing soil pollution and enrichment.

Where can I see this habitat?
Bramley Bank
Crane Park Island
Denham Lock Wood SSSI
Frays Island and Mabey’s Meadow
Gunnersbury Triangle
Gutteridge Wood
Isleworth Ait
New Cross Gate Cutting
Oak Hill Woods
Saltbox Hill SSSI
Ten Acre Woods and Meadows
The Grove
Uxbridge Moor
Wilderness Island