Access: site entrance is
signed on Waltham Road, between Waltham and Petham. Parking opposite. GR
118504
A walk through this site demonstrates why ancient
woodland is so special. Characteristic plants such as herb paris and wood
anemone grow in the undisturbed western part, but the eastern part, which
seems to have been cleared and cultivated in the not too distant past, is
lacking them, even though the trees have come back. Some ancient woodland
plants may take
centuries to come back into the woodland disturbed by
cultivation, because they spread very slowly, and a few may never return
at all! The same problem occurs in newly planted woodlands - you can plant
all the right trees, but the plants will arrive very slowly or not at all.
This means it is all but impossible to recreate ancient woodlands, which
is why they must be so carefully conserved: once lost they are lost for
good.
For more information: Woodland Trust 01476 581111
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