Despite a marginal rise in tree cover, the UK’s woodland wildlife is plummeting, according to a report by the Woodland Trust.
Decline of Woodland Wildlife
- 47% decline in butterflies between 1990 and 2022
- 37% reduction in woodland birds in the past 50 years
- 15% decline in the past five years
The report highlights a range of alarming trends, including a 70% decline in dormice populations in surveyed woodlands between 2000 and 2022.
Reduced Plant Species Richness
- 22% reduction in plant species richness over the past 50 years
- One in 50 native woodlands have more than one veteran tree per 200,000 metres squared
- Almost half (46%) of forest species have no deadwood at all
Ms. Abigail Bunker, Director of Conservation and External Affairs at the Woodland Trust, emphasizes that the UK’s “once rich, complex woodlands have become simpler and less biodiverse over time.”
Threats to UK Woodlands
| Threats to UK Woodlands | Impacts |
| Introduced pests | 121 different species of pests, estimated annual management cost £919.9 million |
| Climate change | Allowing introduced pests to thrive, potentially devastating native trees |
The report warns that healthy woodlands are crucial for tackling climate change and mitigating its effects, such as flooding and carbon sequestration.
Wellbeing and Communities
Research has shown that woodland biodiversity has a positive impact on wellbeing and communities, with nine in ten people agreeing that it has a positive impact.
- Richest woodlands for wellbeing are unevenly distributed across the UK, with lower value woodlands found in more deprived areas
The report highlights the need for sensitive management of woodlands to make them more resilient to threats and to ensure their survival and success.
Call to Action
“We are calling on the Government and others to invest in the management of our woodlands, so that people and wildlife can experience the benefits of these precious ecosystems,”
““It’s also vital that the government start hitting their 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.”
Ms.
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