Bring back the ancient woodlands smothered beneath your timber plantations

Ancient woodlands are vanishing – and with them, some of our most loved and endangered wildlife. Forestry England manages over 100,000 acres of land that used to be ancient woodland - that’s bigger than the Isle of Wight. But instead of flourishing as rich, native forest, much of it has been turned into sterile plantations of fast-growing, non-native trees – choking out the life that once thrived there.

Buried in these Ghost Woods are the seeds, fungal networks and surviving species which cling on from centuries-old ecosystems. If we act now, we can bring them back. But if we miss this window, these precious seeds will die and these woods will be lost forever. 

According to data published in the Guardian, at current rates of progress it will take Forestry England a lifetime – over 80 years! – to merely start seeing meaningful progress for all of these precious woodlands. If restoration isn’t sped up, will there be any ghosts left to bring back to life?

Forestry England manage our public forest estate - it is their job to protect and restore our woods for us, the public. They must work faster if we are to save these vital habitats. 

Join the thousands of people across the country who are calling for our lost woodlands to be brought back from the dead!