Identification

Title

Ancient Woodland Inventory 2011 and 2021

Alternative title(s)

Rhestr Coetiroedd Hynafol

AWI 2011

Ancient_woodland_inventory 2011.LYR

Abstract

This dataset comprises of the boundaries of Ancient Woodland sites in Wales. Each site is categorised as either Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), Restored Ancient Woodland Site (RAWS), Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) or Ancient Woodland Site of Unknown Category (AWSU). Initially all woods greater than 2 ha shown on the Ordnance Survey (OS) 1:25 000 1st Series maps surveyed between 1880 and 1960 were considered. Evidence as to which of these were ancient was provided by presence on the earlier 19th century OS 1st Edition Maps (surveyed 1805 - 1873; scale 1:63 360). The general presumption was that woodland on 1800s maps was ancient, unless there was other evidence that the wood originated between 1600AD and 1800. Supportive indications of ancient status included the woo d's name, its situation in the landscape, and the nature of both the surrounding pattern of enclosure and the pattern of boundaries within the wood. Where available, field survey data such as the presence of indicator species, or other historical maps and documents were also used. In mountainous areas such as Wales the first edition Ordnance Survey 1 inch maps were hard to interpret because the heavy hatching used to indicate steep slopes tended to obscure tree symbols. The 2021 update to the ancient woodland inventory includes changes to the 2011 version resulting from the provision of additional evidence presented to NRW through public enquiries. This includes private estate maps, tithe maps, management records and photographs. The evidence has been considered by a panel of NRW experts and the inventory amended if the evidence indicates that a site has had another land use for a significant period, i.e. woodland is absent from the site in two consecutive epochs of OS historic maps, or there has been significant ground disturbance to the site, e.g. quarrying, mining or development. Amendments include removal of sites from the inventory, adjustments to boundaries or changes to the ancient woodland category of sites.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

http://lle.gov.wales/catalogue/item/AncientWoodlandInventory2011/?lang=en

name: Download Data and Web Service

http://lle.gov.wales/services/wms/nrw?

name: Web Mapping Service

Unique resource identifier

code

116442

codeSpace

https://naturalresources.wales

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

authority code

OGP

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::BNG

Additional information source

The maps combined with new methodology have provided a more accurate inventory which has resulted in an additional 33,000 hectares being identified as Ancient Woodland of which 5,000 is on the WGWE. Categories of Ancient Woodland identified on the AWI map: Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) – broadleaf woodlands comprising of mainly native tree and shrub species which have been in existence for over 400 years.

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Habitats and biotopes

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2021-04-27

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-5.77774100

East bounding longitude

-2.60886500

North bounding latitude

53.51306700

South bounding latitude

51.24082900

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

ISO3166 Countries

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2021-04-27

code identifying the extent

Wales (WLS)

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2011-01-01

End position

2021-02-25

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2021-02-25

Frequency of update

asNeeded

Quality and validity

Lineage

The areas of ancient woodland with non-native trees planted on them, termed Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), and those areas of ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) were identified and delimited by using the latest Ordnance Survey maps and field survey records. The area of each was measured using a dot grid overlay on flat projections of the 1:25 000 1st series map. The results were presented as a series of reports and maps by administrative regions (counties). As new information has been received from surveys and ad hoc informants, the initial county inventories have been revised by adding or deleting sites, or by changing the classification of the growing stock. The Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) identifies woodlands that have had a continuous woodland cover for centuries. Studies show that these woodlands are typically of higher nature conservation value than those that have developed recently. In the 1980s the former Nature Conservancy Council instigated the AWI, which attempted to list all ancient woodlands in Britain. A baseline date of 1600 AD was adopted because reasonable maps were available from this time (in England, at least). 1600 AD however, was an arbitrary date, and there was no clear ecological cut-off. The AWI was always considered to be provisional and subject to refinement, and never a definitive listing of the ancient, or the 'best' woods. Between 2010 and 2011 Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) and Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) commissioned a revision of the AWI in Wales comparing the existing A WI and National Forest Inventory with the Epoch 1: 1st County Series Ordnance Survey maps in terms of identification of ancient woodland. Epoch 1 County Series maps provide a more reliable and comprehensive baseline than the AWI. Moreover, the Epoch 1 maps incorporate numerous practical advantages over the AWI in terms of their ease of use, accuracy and level of detail.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019741. Crown Copyright and Database Right.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

telephone number

0300 065 3000

email address

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2021-04-26

Metadata language

eng