Beyond the trees: how to make your woodland a wildlife haven

Healthy, species‑rich woodlands are more than a backdrop to rural life – they are working ecosystems that store carbon, slow water, protect soils and support livelihoods. The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) treats biodiversity as an integral part of sustainable forest management across all woodland types, including ancient semi‑natural, native broadleaf, farm copses and productive conifers.

Diverse forests are better able to withstand pests, diseases and extreme weather events. They also provide the flexibility to meet your goals, whether that’s quality timber, nature recovery, public access or all three.

Understanding protected and priority species

Before you start woodland operations, it’s important to build up a picture of the wildlife on your site. Check local records and seek advice from your local Woodland Officer.

A woodland management plan that maps sensitive areas will help you to schedule work to avoid disturbing protected or priority species. For example, avoiding thinning near nesting sites in spring, retaining potential bat roost trees, or buffering watercourses that support species like Atlantic salmon or freshwater pearl mussel.

The aim is simple: stay legally compliant and take practical steps to help wildlife thrive while management work continues.

Special considerations for ancient woodland

Ancient woodlands, including ancient semi‑natural woodland (ASNW), wood pasture and parkland, and plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS), are irreplaceable.

For ASNW, keep trees native, avoid introducing invasive, non‑native species, protect veteran trees and soils, and manage deer and invasive shrubs.

For PAWS, plan progressive restoration and retain remnant ancient features. Thin and restructure your woodland to let light in, and favour natural regeneration of native species (where trees seed within the woodland habitat itself). Restoration strengthens resilience, supports specialist wildlife and leaves a legacy you can be proud of.

Getting the mix right

The UKFS embeds biodiversity into woodland design. Following best practice, manage at least 15% of your Forest Management Unit (FMU) with biodiversity as a major objective. Consider long‑term retentions such as riparian corridors (wooded areas alongside water bodies), native woodland blocks, open habitat networks, and deadwood hotspots.

Across your whole FMU, these simple ratios spread risk, create varied habitats and promote resilience without sacrificing productivity:

• no more than 65% of one type to avoid over‑relying on any single tree species
• at least 5% native broadleaved trees or shrubs
• 10% other species
• 10% open ground or land managed primarily for biodiversity

Deadwood as nature’s hidden infrastructure

Up to a fifth of woodland species depend on decaying wood.¹ Plan to retain standing and fallen deadwood, especially large‑diameter native pieces in clusters around high‑value areas such as veteran trees, riparian zones, wood pasture and ancient woodland.

Over time, work towards roughly one lorry‑load per hectare (around 20 m³/ha). Manage safety hazards on well‑used trails, and where pests such as bark beetles are a concern, follow guidance on inspecting and removing specific host material after storms or periods of drought.

Connectivity and fragmentation

Wildlife moves through networks, so strengthening these connections within and beyond your boundary by linking habitats makes a real difference. Broaden rides and glades, build graded edges, retain hedgerows and veteran trees, and establish riparian corridors that stitch woods to the wider landscape.

When creating new woodland, extend from existing semi‑natural habitats to reduce edge effects. By expanding an existing habitat, you can maximise the safe interior ‘core’ of your woodland to limit the amount of vulnerable outer border exposed to harsh, external conditions. Design for connectivity but keep biosecurity in mind, by cleaning machinery and footwear, and control invasive non‑native species so that new links don’t become invasion routes.

Native woodland enhancement

Native woods carry the highest biodiversity value and are central to resilient landscapes. You can improve their ecological condition by controlling deer, grey squirrels and invasive shrubs, protecting soils, encouraging natural regeneration and having a diverse tree age and structure.

When creating new woods, choose site‑adapted native species and provenances (using certified reproductive material) and consider your site’s future climate. Converting appropriate non‑native stands near ancient woodland or along watercourses can deliver quick gains for wildlife and water quality.

Monitoring and assessment

Monitoring turns good intentions into results. It’s important to review your woodland management plan on a five‑year cycle. Keep it simple and carry out repeatable checks including:

• herbivore impact assessments
• invasive species 'walk‑through’ visual checks of your woodland
• photo‑points for rides, edges and regeneration from the same, fixed locations over successive years to visually monitor change
• notes on deadwood and veteran trees
• records of timing adjustments for forest operations to protect wildlife

The Woodland Wildlife Toolkit offers information and practical management guidance to better understand and care for your local woodland wildlife.

What this means for your objectives

Whether your aim is for habitat recovery, quality timber, natural flood management, farm diversification or public access – the UKFS gives you a single, practical framework to work from.

1. Managing deadwood in forests and woodlands ↩︎