WHAT
ARE THE HERITAGE WOODS?
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The
Heritage Woodlands contain a number of tree species introduced
from elsewhere, such as this fine Sweet Chestnut in Falconer
Wood. |
Heritage Woods is the name given to 35 important woodlands
spread throughout the South Yorkshire Forest and lying close to
Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield. All 35 Heritage Woodlands are
being restored as part of the Fuelling a Revolution
programme.
These woodlands are special because they are almost all ancient
woodlands, which means that they are known to be at least 400
years old.
The history of the Heritage Woodlands is remarkable well
known. The long relationship between the woods and people is shown
by the prehistoric settlements and other archaeological features
that they contain, as well as by the large number of old documents
which describe the ways in which they were used in the past. From
this evidence, we know that the woodlands have changed a lot over
time, from the 'wildwood' of prehistoric times; through their use
as 'wood-pasture' and 'coppice'; to the planting of trees originally
from elsewhere in the world, that are now common in many of the
woodlands.
For thousands of years the Heritage Woodlands were an important
source of materials for building and farming and most importantly
of fuel for South Yorkshire's early iron and steel industry. In
fact, without the charcoal produced from the woodlands, it is unlikely
that this industry would have developed in the area at all.
To see the history of the Heritage Woodlands in an exciting and
easy-to-understand way, go to the interactive
Heritage Woodland history on this website.
Our
Sustainable woodlands
Because
of their age, the Heritage Woodlands are of great value to wildlife.
They contain many different trees and shrubs and are rich in flowering
plants such as bluebell and wood anemone, some of which are only found
in ancient woodlands. They also provide a home for many different
kinds of animal, including birds, mammals and a widerange of invertebrates.
Here are some
pictures of animals and birds that you might spot in the woods.
Click on each picture to show a factfile on the animal or bird.
All 35 of the Heritage Woodlands are owned by local councils and
are freely open to people of all ages. They lie close to the homes
of large numbers of people and make an important contribution to
these people's lives, in terms of health, recreation and employment.
They also form a valuable 'outdoor classroom' for use by local schools.
For more information on the individual woodlands in the Fuelling
a Revolution programme, click on the Heritage
Woodlands Map.
