Forestry Minister, Jim Knight MP, and Lord Clark, Chairman of the Forestry Commission launched "keepers of time", a new policy that will radically change the way that woodland sites and forests in London, and across England, will be managed.

The new policy represents a significant change in emphasis for forestry in London, and across England, placing ancient and native woodland at the heart of forestry policy.

The delivery of the new policy will involve, amongst other initiatives, a major programme of tree felling and thinning in those ancient woodlands converted to plantations in the last century. This will see millions of conifers and non-native species of trees gradually removed from the English landscape over the next 20 years or so, to be replaced with native species, such as oak, ash and beech, which will be allowed to naturally seed and regenerate.

England’s ancient and native woods provide renewable resources and employment opportunities, contribute to flood management and the regulation of air and water quality, contain a wealth of historic features and important wildlife, act as places for recreation and education, and provide tranquillity and inspiration as retreats from modern life.

Threats faced by England’s ancient and native woodland include shading from planted conifers, overgrazing by deer and livestock, competition from introduced ‘alien’ species, pollution from agriculture, the effects of climate change, loss to development, poor management and neglect. England’s native woodland is especially vulnerable to these threats because those woods that remain are often small and fragmented.

Under the new policy, these threats will be addressed as a matter of priority and urgency with the aim of reversing the decline of ancient and native woodland and improving its value for wildlife. It will also involve more new native woodland being created, especially where it can buffer or link the many small fragments of woodland that are spread throughout the London Region and across the country.

Some 80% of London's woodlands have a predominantly broadleaved canopy of native species. However with only 1.4% of the land area in London covered by ancient woodland, there is a strong need to repair the damage to, and reverse the decline of, this important habitat. While the largest areas of ancient woodland are on the edge of London, often in the Green Belt, smaller more isolated areas, such as Highgate Woods and Oxleas Wood, are more centrally located. All of these sites are under considerable and increasing pressure and require improved management if they are to be preserved and protected for public use.

Ron Melville, the Forestry Commission’s Conservator in its London Region, said: “This policy comprises a comprehensive set of objectives, but there are three critical ones… firstly, preventing any further decline in London’s small but significant ancient woods by addressing the threats that they face, secondly, encouraging the restoration of conifer plantations established on ancient sites back to native woodland, and thirdly, creating more native woodland and other associated habitats, where they will complement and buffer the surviving remnants of ancient woodland in London. It is however important to stress the value of all London’s woodlands in their significant contribution to London’s landscape and wildlife as well as the long term social benefits. These aspects are stressed in the Mayor of London’s recently prepared ‘Tree and Woodland Framework for London’ and the London Biodiversity Partnership’s Woodland Habitat Action Plan. ”

Speaking at the launch of the new policy, Jim Knight MP, Minister for Forestry, said: “England’s diverse and beautiful landscapes are justly famous the world over. Our ancient woods are quintessential features of these much loved landscapes, irreplaceable, living historic monuments, which inspire us and provide us with a sense of place and history. This policy statement rightly celebrates the importance of our ancient and native woodlands and set outs the mechanisms by which they can be conserved and enhanced over the coming years.”

Lord Clark, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, said: "It is now time to significantly raise the profile and importance of ancient woodland by placing it at the heart of our policies on woodlands and forestry. Our ancient and semi-natural woodlands are the jewels in the crown of English forestry, and protecting and enhancing them will now be a high priority. Since the 1980’s, our understanding of woodland has increased, new issues have arisen and many of the pressures on the resource have changed. The successful implementation of this policy will depend on developing new approaches and working in partnership with private owners and other key partners and stakeholders."

England has a total area of woodland of 1.1 million hectares, of which ancient woodland covers 340,000 hectares (30%). Of this, 140,000 hectares was converted to plantations during the Twentieth Century. The Forestry Commission intends to lead the way in implementing the new policy. It has 53,000 hectares of ancient woodland on its estate.

Rod Leslie, Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise, which manages the Forestry Commission estate, said: "Most of our plantations on ancient sites will, through careful and gradual improvement, be restored to rich, semi-natural woodland. Often it is only a ‘light touch’ that is required to remove or reduce a cause of decline or gradually improve their ecological quality. There is an urgency to begin the process, to turn the tide, but there is no rush to finish; indeed, the wildlife found surviving in these woods, and the visitors to them, will both prefer gradual change."