English Nature has signed up to the campaign to restore ancient woodlands to their natural state.
The organisation is backing the Woodland Trust‘s report ‘Reclaiming our forgotten inheritance’ which suggests that gradual restoration of native trees and shrubs often works better through thinning rather than clear felling.
Campaigners say the opportunity to restore ancient woodland will come when conifer plantations mature and are felled over the next 10 years.
English Nature is calling for woodland policy changes to ensure traditional trees such as oak, ash, beech and hazel are planted when the conifers are harvested.
