Woodland is a major component of the landscape of the AONB, with a diverse and complex land use history. Many areas of woodland in the AONB date back to at least the medieval period and are associated with ancient trees, coppices and semi-natural habitats. Just as important however are the post 1800 additions. These include new geometric blocks of woodland used as game cover and striking ornamental additions linked to the creation of great landscape parks.

Although many areas of old woodland have been cleared or replanted since the medieval period, the general trend over the last 200 years has been towards a more dispersed woodland landscape punctuated by ancient blocks of woodland. There are of course exceptions to this pattern. For example, around the Donheads in the Vale of Wardour ancient enclosures and assarts nestle alongside dispersed bands of ancient trees and recently wooded over common land.

Click map for large PDF version (355Kb)

The map illustrates the distribution of woodland through today's landscape in the AONB by broad type.

Pre 1800 Woodland

The pre 1800 woodland is found in large blocks across the northern greensand hills, the tops of the West Wiltshire Downs, the woods of the Cranborne Chase downland, the area between Warminster and Mere, and the Martin to Whitsbury Downland Hills. The woodland is much more dispersed through the Vale of Wardour. There is very little ancient woodland in the chalk river valleys and through large parts of the Southern Downland Belt. The woodlands of the wooded downland of Cranborne Chase are the remnants of the woods of the medieval hunting chase, and many of the woods have names which reflect this history. Both the woodland here, and through the Downland Hills between Martin and Whitsbury, are dominated by old coppices.

Post 1800 Woodland

Post 1800 Woodland is more widely distributed across the AONB. In general it is found in small scattered blocks and is absent from areas of the chalk downland in the south of the AONB and along the river valley of the Ebble. There are larger and denser concentrations along the greensand terrace in the North of the AONB especially near Longleat and around Fonthill in the Vale of Wardour. These are the result of new planting schemes undertaking by two of the major landowners in the AONB. There is also a linear distribution of medium blocks of woodland along the edge of the chalk escarpment between Shaftesbury and Blandford Forum.

Follow the link to download Section 5.3 of the HLC Report PDF (460 Kb) - a more detailed description of the historic character of woodland in the AONB.