Woodland was the original habitat of much of London but now covers just 5% of the capital. London’s remaining woods have a fascinating history and contain a rich variety of wildlife. They range from the ancient woodlands of Ruislip and Oxleas, to small pockets of more recent woodland in Victorian cemeteries and along railway lines.

What is woodland?  Woodland is made up of a wide range of plant types including trees and shrubs, climbers, perennial herbs, bulbs, grasses, sedges, mosses and lichens. Deadwood is also an important component, supporting a huge range of fungi, plants and invertebrates. 

Whose habitat is it?  Springtime brings a carpet of bluebells to Hillingdon’s Gutteridge Wood, while the woodland scrub of The Chase boasts the rare black poplar tree. Sydenham Hill Wood is part of the last remaining tract of the Great North Wood and is home to a dazzling array of trees, woodland birds, mammals, fungi and flowers.

Conservation issues  Thousands of years of land management has dramatically reduced our woodland cover. As the timber market declined, so too did positive woodland management. Less than five percent of London is still woodland and it is under threat.

Where can I see this habitat?

Beverley Meads

Bramley Bank

The Chase

Denham Lock Wood

Gutteridge Wood

Oakhill Woods

Sydenham Hill Wood

Ten Acre Wood