Wooded habitats and trees
Lancashire is home to a range of habitat types relating to trees and woodland. The thematic habitat of trees and woodland includes the trees, hedgerows, scrub, orchards, woodlands, wood pasture and parkland, wet woodland, and commercial forestry. However, tree and woodland cover is approximately 10.34% (2022 National Forest Inventory figures), this is below the North-West average for woodland cover (12.57%) and the England average at 14.87%.
The British Isles once supported large expanses of temperate rainforest and the species associated with them) across the western fringes including north-western England and in Lancashire upland oakwood in the Forest of Bowland and South and West Pennines) where important examples still exist. The vast majority, however, have been replaced by coniferous plantations and sheep grazed pastures. Remnant areas are small and fragmented.
Up to 40% of England’s ancient woodlands have been cleared and replanted with non-native timber species[i]. The way in which trees and woodland are established and managed will influence their biodiversity and the other benefits they provide[ii]. Lack of management of existing woodlands is leading to poor condition and replanting is often required.
Grazing by deer is one of the main pressures on existing temperate rainforests[iii]. With deer populations that may be higher than at any other time in the last 1000 years, and invasive grey squirrel populations increasing, strategic management approaches at a landscape scale will be needed to secure our trees, woodlands and the biodiversity they support.
Disease is also a key threat. Ash dieback, Phytophtora ramorum and Phytophora austrocedri already occur in Lancashire. Planning and managing our woodlands to increase resilience to the spread of disease and to cope with future climate will be needed to keep our trees and woodlands healthy.
Hedgerows are a feature of Lancashire’s lowland farmed landscape. They provide stock proof boundaries, link habitats and provide shelter both for wildlife and farm animals. If managed sympathetically they can provide food for a range of species including pollinators and their woody structure can capture carbon, helping to reduce the impacts of climate change. And if planted in the right places, for example contouring across slopes, they can also help to slow surface water flow. However, in detailed surveys undertaken by the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership[iv] in 2018, less than 11% hedgerows were considered species-rich and most were fragmented and defunct.
A number of community orchards are known to have been planted in recent years, including examples in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancaster, South Ribble and Wyre. However, there does not appear to be a register of either new or pre-existing orchards in Lancashire. Hence, the number, area, composition and condition of orchards in Lancashire is unknown. According to the Arnside and Silverdale AONB Management Plan 2019-2024, while some orchards are well managed, the condition of others is deteriorating and many are in need of concentrated restoration work.
Table 14: Pressures and opportunities for recovery (wooded habitats and trees)
| Pressures | Example Habitats Affected | Broad Species Assemblages Affected (including example species[1]) | Opportunities Identified |
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• Climate change • Pests and diseases • Land management detrimental to biodiversity • Invasive species • Habitat loss and fragmentation • Recreational impacts |
Ancient and native woodland Ancient & veteran trees Coniferous woodland Deciduous woodland (incld. lowland mixed deciduous) Hedgerows Mixed woodland Orchards Scrub Temperate rainforest (incld. upland oak/ash wood) Wet woodland Wood pasture and parkland Yew Woodland |
Woodland (Broadleaved) including ancient, damp/wet and calcareous. 54 shortlisted species including - Mammals: • Pine martin • Hazel dormouse • Numerous bat species Birds: • Hawfinch • Willow tit • Goshawk • Pied flycatcher Invertebrates: • Netted carpet moth Plants: • Bird's-nest Orchid • Enchanter's nightshade • Dark-leaved willow • Wild service tree • Ulota calvescens (a cushion moss) • Rhytidiadelphus subpinnatus (a turf-moss) Fungi: • Orange chanterelle • Blackening coral fungi Calcareous Habitat Mosaic with structural diversity (Rocky woodland, limestone, juniper scrub, woodland rides and coppice) 22 shortlisted species including - Mammals: • Hedgehog Invertebrates: • 4 LNRS target species (3 butterflies, 1 bee) • White-letter hairstreak butterfly • Painted pill woodlouse Plants: • Narrow-leaved bitter-cress • Yellow bird's-nest • Lancastrian whitebeam Riparian Woodland (including riverside trees and woodland and shaded banks) Plants: • Black poplar • Yellow star-of-Bethlehem Scrub Mosaics with structural diversity (Grassland/Woodland), wood pasture, woodland edge/heath, early Succession (Birch Wood) and hedgerows. 16 shortlisted species including - Birds: • Black grouse Invertebrates: • Brown hairstreak butterfly • Large red-belted clearwing moth • Broad margin mining bee • Tree snipe fly Plants: • Tea-leaved willow Deadwood & Litter 9 shortlisted invertebrate species including: • Trichrysis cyanea (blue cuckoo wasp) • Crossocerus binotatus (a digger wasp) • Lasius fulginosus (a jet ant) • Lesser Sabre Comb-Horn (crane-fly) One lichen species Mixed and coniferous woodland 4 shortlisted species: • Red squirrel • Nightjar (bird) • Red wood ant • Shiny guest ant |
Increase tree and woodland cover. Integrate existing community woodlands and country parks into the surrounding landscape. Riparian planting to slow the flow, regulate water quantity and reduce water temperatures. Identify and restore traditional orchards. Establish new orchards in public open space for communities. Restock conifer plantations with native trees and manage them for nature conservation and recreation encouraging public access in these locations. Coppice management for timber production, improve structural diversity and create green jobs. |
Table 15: Wooded habitats and trees priorities, potential measures, and associated benefits
| Priority | Measure | Shortlist species benefited[2] | Benefits |
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W1. Biodiversity value of existing wooded habitats is maximised.
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W1.1 - Restore natural processes and enhance the biodiversity value of existing wooded habitats, prioritising ancient and long-established woodlands, temperate rainforest, Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and wet woodland. |
Mammals: • Pine martin • Polecat • Hazel dormouse • Hedgehog • Roosting & foraging bat species including (Noctule, Brown long-eared, Natterer's) Birds: • Hawfinch • Goshawk • Black grouse Invertebrates: • Wall mason bee • Broad margin mining bee • Large red-belted clearwing moth • White-letter hairstreak butterfly • Painted pill woodlouse Tree snipe fly Plants: • Bird's-nest Orchid • Enchanter's nightshade • Narrow-leaved Bitter-cress • Yellow bird's-nest • Tea-leaved Willow • Wild service tree • Lancastrian whitebeam • Plagiomnium ellipticum (moss) • Pylaisia polyantha (moss) Fungi: • Orange chanterelle • Blackening coral |
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Wider benefits: • Timber production, • Carbon sequestration, • Improved air quality, • health and wellbeing, • climate regulation (building resilience to climate change), • local economy and green jobs, • social, cultural, and educational Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW4, P2, P3, P4, W2, U2, U3, U4 |
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W1.2 – Enhance the biodiversity value of broadleaved, mixed and coniferous plantation woodland, including:
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W1.3 - Introduce low impact woodland management and low impact management practices including sustainably managed Continuous Cover Forestry to diversify age range and structure of woodland. |
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W1.4 - Employ measures to minimise grazing and trampling pressure on woodland ground flora and understorey, including fencing where appropriate. |
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W1.5 - Retention and appropriate maintenance of aged, ancient and veteran trees to maximise their lifespan and biodiversity value, including safe retention of dead and decaying wood and other veteran features as well as maintenance of root protection zones to prevent construction, soil compaction, cultivation/excavation and application of fertilizers and pesticides. |
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W1.6 - Restore, enhance and maintain wood pasture and parkland encouraging a diversity of:
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W1.7 - Restore and expand juniper scrub including encouraging natural regeneration and appropriate planting on suitable soils. |
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W1.8 - Retain and enhance standing and fallen dead wood resources in wooded habitats to maximise biodiversity value. |
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W1.9 - Retain trees with ash dieback where considered appropriate and safe to do so. Provide adequate replacement planting where retention is not possible. |
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W1.10 - Enhance the biodiversity value of hedgerows for example: • Bring hedgerows into lifecycle management including periodic rejuvenation. • Promote hedgerow management that routinely benefits wildlife such as incremental trimming and longer trimming rotations. • Lay or coppice hedgerows which have passed their peak maturity to encourage dense base regrowth and ensure another lifecycle. |
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W2. Woodland and wooded habitats expanded and connected with biodiverse woodland creation and tree cover in appropriate locations on a landscape scale.
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W2.1 - Establish riparian woodland and trees along water courses, riparian corridors and floodplains, through appropriate planting or natural colonisation, where biodiversity gains and improved habitat connectivity can be achieved. |
As W1 priorities. In particular: Birds: • Pied flycatcher • Willow tit Invertebrates: • Netted carpet moth Plants: • Dark-leaved willow • Yellow star-of-Bethlehem • Black poplar |
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Wider benefits: • Improved water quality in aquatic environment, • Watercourse infiltration, • Resilience against water quantity extremes, • Supports groundwater recharge, • Agricultural benefits for livestock (shade, shelter, browsing), • Erosion prevention, • Reduction in flood risk to local communities, • Carbon storage, • Timber production, • Climate resilience, • local economy and green jobs, • health and wellbeing • social, cultural and educational Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW4, G3, P2, P3, U1, U2, U3, U4 |
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W2.2 - Expand and enhance wooded clough habitats, through natural regeneration or appropriate planting if necessary, where biodiversity gains and improved habitat connectivity can be achieved. |
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W2.3 - Creation of new biodiverse woodlands incorporating appropriate native species. |
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W2.4 - Appropriate management of woodland verges which may be particularly valuable in aiding connectivity. |
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W2.5 Wet woodland creation in suitable locations for example:
including natural regeneration, planting of appropriate native species and potentially re-wetting of suitable woodland sites on previously drained land. |
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W2.6 - Create new wood pasture and parkland establishing a diversity of:
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W2.7 - Create appropriate semi-natural habitats to buffer, expand or connect existing woodland, incorporating natural colonisation wherever possible. |
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W2.8 - Restore and create temperate rainforest on suitable sites along Lancashire's Atlantic seaboard with precursor vegetation or where indicated by site suitability mapping. |
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W2.9 - Create biodiverse and structurally diverse locally distinctive native hedges, reinstate relic hedgerows and establish boundary trees to connect existing woodland and hedgerow networks. |
[1] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[2] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[i] plantations on ancient woodland sites – PAWS
[ii] T&W report
[iii] DEFRA. 2023. A plan to recover England's temperate rainforests, Policy Paper.
[iv] Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership – NEED REPORT DETAILS