Only 7% of Britain’s Woodlands in Good Condition as Woodland Wildlife Continues to Decline

The UK’s woodland habitats are continuing to deteriorate, with serious consequences for the wildlife that depends on them, according to a new report by the Woodland Trust.

The report reveals that just 7% of Britain’s native woodlands are in good ecological condition, with many lacking key features such as veteran trees, diverse age structures, and sufficient deadwood – all of which are crucial for supporting biodiversity.

Only one in every 50 native woodlands contains more than one veteran tree per 200,000 square metres. These older trees are essential, providing both food and shelter for numerous species.

Abigail Bunker, the trust’s director of conservation and external affairs, said: “The nation’s once rich, complex woodlands have become simpler and less biodiverse over time. Alarmingly, many British woodlands have very few – if any – ancient and veteran trees left.”

Over the past 50 years, populations of woodland birds have dropped by 37%, with a significant 15% decline recorded in just the last five years. Similarly, woodland butterflies have declined by 47% between 1990 and 2022.

Between 2010 and 2020, the Ancient Tree Inventory recorded the loss of 393 veteran trees – either due to felling, collapse, or other forms of destruction.

In response to these ongoing declines, a government taskforce was established in November 2024 to coordinate tree planting efforts across the UK. Its aim is to increase woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050. The taskforce includes ministers from all four nations and representatives from several public bodies.

In 2023, Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed up to £400 million over two years to support tree planting and peatland restoration in England.

However, the Woodland Trust report notes that just 45% of woodland creation targets have been achieved over the past four years.

Bunker said: “It’s also vital that the government start hitting its tree-planting targets, so that there is time to grow the veteran trees of the future and help shape woodlands to better withstand challenges like new diseases, or rising temperatures.”

The report also emphasises the crucial role of forests in combating climate change. UK woodlands currently store around 1 billion tonnes of carbon and actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

 

 

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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.

 

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