A long history of human interaction
Are we humans friend or foe of woodland?
All of the benefits provided by woodlands have meant that they have experienced significant pressure from humans in the past, which means protecting them today is important.
Woodlands have had a long history with humans, the earliest of which dates back up to 2,700 years ago. Settlements tended to be built close to woods because they allowed a ready source of fuel and building materials, a rich hunting ground, and a means of shelter in times of danger.
It is not just the use of wood and fuel that has led to vast clearances in British woodland. Agriculture is another reason why much woodland was cleared – this occurred when food sources in woodlands ran out and humans had to move towards more efficient ways of using the land.
In the last 100 years, 46 broadleaf woodland species have become extinct in the UK.