Woodland Strategy 11.34 Mb - the Dorset AONB

Section 3
History
The character of Dorset’s wooded landscapes has evolved through intricate interactions
between nature and human activity. For centuries Dorset’s trees and woodlands have been
subject to management and been an integral part of the local economy. This has left a
valuable cultural and social legacy, which must be protected and managed to provide the
benefits expected from society now, and in the future.
Eight thousand years ago as much as 80% of Great Britain was forest (albeit with wide open
spaces grazed by large herbivores). By about two thousand years ago large-scale forest
clearance for settlement and agriculture, combined with changes in the climate had already
resulted in tree cover falling to around 20%, with distinct regional variations. This decline
continued through most of the next two thousand years, and by 1900, forest and woodland
cover was around 5%. People have shaped almost all of what we see today in the landscape,
and many of the open spaces of the uplands and lowland heaths, as well as the layout of
towns and villages, owe much to the actions of people many centuries ago.
The Doomsday Book (published in 1086) quotes Dorset as having approximately 32,800
hectares (81,000 acres) of woodland, including wood pasture (Rackham 1986), slightly higher
than recent surveys of 28,758 hectares. In the Ancient Woodland Inventory, compiled and
written by Jonathan Spencer, Dorset is quoted as having 7,749 hectares of ancient woodland.
Melbury Park in North West Dorset is an outstanding example of well-treed parkland.
Melbury Park was enclosed in 1547 and its continued management as a deer
park with its individual trees of great antiquity explains why it is one of the richest
localities for epiphytic lichens in Europe.
Woodland archaeology can be categorised into those remnants from an earlier, open
landscape preserved by tree cover, and those that relate to the past management of treecovered
landscapes. From the former category, features and sites such as round barrows,
burial mounds and prehistoric field systems exist in woodland. From the latter category,
charcoal hearths, limekilns and brickworks inform us of past woodland management. All
form part of the historic environment and provide the tools with which we can understand
our past. They are a finite, non-renewable resource, and once lost, can not be replaced. To
allow the interpretation and study of the historic environment by future generations, they
must be managed to ensure its preservation.
Throughout the centuries woodlands of Dorset were extensively managed and provided
economic and social functions to local communities. Until the 1800s, woodlands remained
relatively intact. Over the last 200 years woodlands have become more linked to the cycle
of modern economies and a great deal of timber was felled to meet the demands of two
World Wars.
Dorset has a history of plantations and natural regeneration of woodlands on heathlands
and other formerly open space. In many areas removal of trees to re-create open ground of
high nature conservation value has been very successful but in other areas mixed ‘wooded
heath’ also provides suitable habitats for many species. Woods and forests that are managed
successfully provide not only economic benefits but also social and environmental ones as
well. The success of many species is a result of the combination of traditional management
practices and commercial forestry providing suitable habitats for these species and delivering
priority Biodiversity Action Plans for endangered species.
Motte & Bailey © Forestry Commission
Since 1945, the direct loss of individual trees was largely driven by agricultural policies of the
time. Many veteran trees were felled to make way for new plantings as they were thought
to be of little value, or died due to unsympathetic management practices such as hedgerow
removal or over-shading. In more recent times veteran trees have suffered as they are a
“Health and Safety” hazard the misconception that these trees are dead, dying or dangerous.
Between 1946 and 1975, at least half of the ancient woodlands in Dorset had lost their
ancient woodland characteristics through the planting of non-native species, reduction in
appropriate management and lack of economic value (Rackham, 1990.) The remaining 50%
maintain many ancient woodland characteristics but many suffer from inappropriate
management.
Commercial forestry consisting of non-native species was highly appropriate to the forestry
policies and woodland objectives of the past. Many of these forests have been managed very
successfully and are now an important capital resource for their owners and have continued
to be an important component of local timber industries. With the rise in the cost of
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