Exploring the history and ecology of British woodlands, this text explains why they are such a valuable resource. It offers a practical guide to issues including: ecology of woodland habitats and organisms; conservation and management; and coppicing, pasture woodland and commercial forestry.

Featuring illustrated species boxes as well as a full species list, notable sites with location maps and pictures, suggested projects and a full glossary, students and environmentalists will gain a deeper understanding of the historical and present-day importance of British woodlands, as both an ecological and a cultural resource.

1. Introduction General The history of woodland in Britain Woodlands in Britain today 2. The Ecology of woodland habitats The structure and functioning of trees Evergreen adn deciduous habitats Reproduction and survival of trees Mycorrhizae Allelopathy Nitrogen fixation The structure of woodland The physical structure Adaptions to woodland life Nutrient flow and decomposition The species composition and classification of woodland Native and introduced trees Woodland types and classification Changes in woodland Natural chages Human induced changes The future 3. Management and Conservation Why manage woods? Woodland managagement techniques: Coppice, Pasture woodland, pollards and dead wood, Management of high forest To manage or not to manage? Minimum intervention Rides,
glades, fire breaks and edges Grazing in woodland New woodland Recreation in woods Management for game Principles of woodland management The future 4. Case studies Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire Bradfield Woods, Suffolk Kielder, Northumberland Inschriach, Cairngorms Coed y Rhygen, Gwynedd The National Forest, The Midlands 5. Practical Work Introduction to
woodland projects Experimental design Health and safety Standing volume of timber in commercial forests The decomposition rate of leaves in woodland Visitors experiences and perceptions of woodlands Assessing the abundance and distribution
of small mammals in woodland The distribution of galls on oak trees References Glossary Species list Further reading: Practical techniques, Data analysis, Identification, Practical conservation, New initiatives, Journals