Peak District National Park: Place Glossary

Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland

these woodlands are the most important woodland type for nature conservation in the peak district and the UK. they possess an immense diversity of habitats and species, which reflect their ecology, geology and their often long history of management.

they are defined as:

woodland on a site that appears to have been continuously wooded since 1600* (probably much longer) and have trees and a shrub layer comprised of native species.

*(1600 is the date when maps first became available)

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Ancient Woodland

a site that has been woodland continuously since 1600. this term may be used for woodlands where the tree cover has been removed but immediately re-planted e.g.. with non-native species such as conifers, or re-generated with no intervening change in land use.

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Biodiversity

biological diversity – the variety of life on earth, from the amazonian rainforests to the smallest creature in our back gardens.

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Broad-Leaved Tree/Shrub

a tree or shrub that has relatively broad leaves as opposed to the narrow leaves or 'needles' of conifers . usually, but not always, deciduous . also known as hardwoods.

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Colonise

the initial establishment of a plant or animal species in a particular location or habitat . can refer to the establishment of a species on a previously bare rock at the beginning of the process of succession .

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Coniferous

a tree or shrub with narrow needle or scale-like leaves. usually, but not always, evergreen and bearing cones. also known as softwoods.

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Coppice

a broadleaved tree/shrub cut close to the ground every few years to encourage re-growth that can be harvested for fuel, charcoaling, hurdling etc.

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Deciduous

a tree or shrub that drops its leaves at the onset of winter and in particular during autumn.

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Ecosystem

a community of plants and/or animals and their physical environment interacting as a unit.

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Evergreen

a tree or shrub that retains its leaves during the autumn and winter months.

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Habitat

a well defined area where an organism lives. for example, a pond or wetland, grassland, woodland, moorland or rock outcrop.

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Introduced Species

a species of plant or animal brought by humans to the british isles after the last ice age and the formation of the north sea and english channel i.e. when britain became an island.

perhaps the greatest introductions were made during the georgian and victorian times when returning botanists and plant hunters brought seeds and specimens back to the british isles from, literally, all over the world. examples of introduced trees/shrubs include the sycamore, rhododendron, horse chestnut (orginally from north greece and albania), sweet chestnut, plane, walnut. introduced animals include the signal crayfish and mink.

Improved Grassland

this term is applied when fields are ploughed and reseeded with fast growing grass species which out grow or 'out compete' the wild flowers. chemical fertilisers are applied to encourage grass growth or 'productivity', but often kill off wild flowers which find the improved soils too rich in nutrients to survive.

the fast growing grass provides food for cattle and sheep.

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Native Species

these are also known as ‘indigenous species'. this term applies to those plants and animals, which were naturally to be found in the british isles before the loss of the land bridge to continental europe and the establishment of the north sea and the english channel. examples of native tree species include the sessile oak, ash, birch, yew, beech.

Natural Re-Generation

re-growth of trees within a woodland from their own seed source or other reproductive methods, without the influence of humans.

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Plantations

close-set plantings of trees in straight lines within existing woodland, on woodlands that have been clear-felled or on new sites such as fields or valley sides. the species planted may be broad-leaved or coniferous , native or introduced . more often than not the trees are conifers, planted for timber.

s ome conservationist have raised concerns over the lack of biodiversity found in conifer plantations compared to ancient semi-natural woodlands.

(images/panorama of both conifer plantation e.g. burbage brook/upper derwent and native woodland e.g. padley gorge for comparison)

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Pollard

a tree, which is cut at least 2 metres in height above the ground to produce new growth of young branches. this provides a wood crop, prolongs the tree's life and allows the grazing of livestock on pasture below, out of reach of the growing wood crop. pollards are often to be found in parkland or wood-pasture and can reach a great age, becoming veteran trees.

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Primary Woodland

woodland unaffected by any human influence or activity. it is the original ‘wildwood' growing naturally following the end of the last ice age around 13,000 years ago.

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Provenance

the growing of trees from seeds collected and raised from a local area or region for use in that local area or region. they will have a genetic makeup adapted to that area or region, particularly regarding climate adaptability.

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Secondary Woodland

this term is given to those woodlands growing on previously non-wooded sites. most woodland, even ancient woodland , maybe secondary in nature as the site is likely to have been cleared at some time in the past, usually for agriculture. plantations and shelterbelts are also secondary woodlands.

Semi-Natural Woodland

woodland, believed to be natural (not planted), mainly made up of native species . the woodland may have been modified by humans e.g. coppiced , but retains significant nature conservation interest. many semi-natural woodlands have only survived as they occur on land unsuitable for farming such as steep sided limestone dales, rocky boulder strewn slopes beneath gritstone edges or very wet areas.

nearly all habitat sites in britain are generally regarded as semi-natural rather than truly natural.

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Shelterbelt

planted trees, often around exposed upland farmhouses to provide shelter, especially from wind and the worst of the winter weather.

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Succession

an ecological process whereby plantlife develops over time. beginning with the initial colonisation e.g. of bare rock by simple plants such as algae and lichens, through to the development of soil and the growth of more complex plants such as shrubs and trees.

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Wood Pasture

woodland or parkland in which livestock or deer are systematically grazed. often an ancient landscape with veteran and/or pollarded trees.

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