Trees and woodland in a cultural landscape: the history of woods in England

The trees of England are deciduous species of genera such as Quercus, Fraxi nus, Corylus, Ulmus and Tilia. Native conifers are insignificant. Nearly ai l the trees coppice or sucker when felled; this is often their main histori c means of reproduction. England is historically a country with very little woodland. Most of the primaeval wildwood was destroyed more than 2000 year s ago. The first inventory of land-uses, in 1086 AD, records about 15% of t he area of England as woodland; this had fallen to about 6% by 1350. This r emaining woodland was a valuable resource, and was managed and conserved do wn to the 20th century. It then fell into a period of neglect and destructi on, from which it has lately been rescued by the efforts of conservationist s.