Longwood has an impressive footprint of 325-acre woodlands
About Longwood temperate rainforest
Longwood is steeped in history; the original woodland has been traced back to the Iron Age and then on a map in 1811, which initially classified it as an ancient woodland. Longwood is predominantly known as PAWS – plantation on ancient woodland site – class 3; this means that the whole forest has been clear felled and used for plantation at some point during the last 100 years and most probably before that during the Iron Age.
Longwood is an (Atlantic) temperate rainforest. This means the area has an extended growing season due to the high rainfall, cooler temperatures, and changing seasons. Longwood is a vibrant green place, full of life, covered in lichens, fungi, and mosses that coat the trees and the floor surfaces. It plays an essential role in our ecosystem and biodiversity.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is an abundance of life that includes all species of plants and insects.
Longwood has regenerated naturally in some parts due to clear felling with tree species such as Birch (a pioneering species), Oak, Hazel, Grey Willow, Beech, Ash, Conifers, Hemlock, and Sitka.
Lichen thrive in this environment, and the Lichen Red Data List for Wales Report (2010) confirms that Wales is home to approximately 1,250 species of lichen, representing an impressive 68% of the world’s lichen species.
What variety of trees can you find in the woodland
Longwood has approximately 12 different species of trees. Since 2007, an extra 10,000 trees have been planted.
Overview of some of the different species of trees that we have in Longwood
Alder Tree
Alder is a relative of birch
Alder tree roots lock nitrogen into the soil so can tolerate, and even improve poor soils.
- Lifespan: 60 years
- Height: Up to 28m
- Leaves: Dark green leaves are racquet-shaped and leathery, with serrated edges. The leaf tip is never pointed and is often indented.
- Bark: The bark is dark and fissured
- Soft or hardwood: Soft hardwood
Ash Tree
Graceful trees with domed canopies
Ash is one of the strongest hardwoods and is shock-resistant.
- Lifespan: Up to 1000 years
- Height: Up to 40m
- Leaves: Pinnately compound, typically comprising 3–6 opposite pairs of light green, oval leaflets with tips up to 40cm long. There is an additional singular ‘terminal’ leaflet at the end.
- Bark: The bark is pale brown to grey and fissures as the tree ages
- Soft or hardwood: Hardwood
Beech Tree
Established roughly 2,000 years after the last ice age.
They are generally considered native to south-east England and south-east Wales.
- Lifespan: 350 years.
- Height: Mature Beech trees can grow to 30-40m
- Leaves: Dark green oval and pointed at the tip, with a wavy edge.
- Bark: Smooth grey bark, often with slight horizontal etchings.
- Soft or hardwood: Hard wood
Birch tree
Birch is a pioneer species
It is used for joint pain, kidney stones, bladder stones, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and other conditions.
- Lifespan: 150 years.
- Height: Grows up to 30m
- Leaves: It has soft needles with two grey bands underneath.
- Bark: Smooth, resinous, varicoloured or white bark,On older trunks the thick, deeply furrowed bark breaks into irregular plates.
- Soft or hardwood: Hardwood
Douglas Fir
Its timber is used to make furniture.
It was thought to be re-introduced around 1548.
- Lifespan: 600 years
- Height: Grows up to 55m, developing drooping branches, but can reach 100ms. It is the fifth giant conifer in the world.
- Leaves: Flattened solitary needles on pegs have a slatey-blue tint and sharp points.
- Bark: Greyish-brown, which, when mature, flakes off in round scales.
- Soft or hardwood: Softwood
Holly Tree
The original yule log burnt at Christmas was holly.
They are generally considered native to south-east England and south-east Wales.
- Lifespan: 400 years.
- Height: Up to 15m
- Leaves: Holly leaves are deep green and glossy with sharp spikes.
- Bark: Smooth and thin with lots of small, brown ‘warts’ and dark brown stems.
- Soft or hardwood: Hardwood
Larch
European larch was first introduced to Britain around 1620.
Larch trees can retain old cones on their stems for many years.
- Lifespan: 250 years
- Height: Can grow up to 30m
- Leaves: Light green leaves are soft and needle-like, 2–4cm long
- Bark: Is pinkish brown and, over time, develops wide vertical fissures
- Soft or hardwood: Softwood
Sessile Oak
Known as the “king of trees.”
- Lifespan: Up to 1,000 years
- Height: 20-40m
- Leaves: Are dark green with regular rounded lobes.
- Bark: The bark is greyish-brown in color and has a very similar appearance to the English oak’s bark
- Soft or hardwood: Hardwood
Scots Pine
It is a pioneer species, meaning it can thrive in poor soils and regenerate.
Considered native to south-east England and south-east Wales.
- Lifespan: up to 700 years
- Height: Can grow up to 35m
- Leaves: Blue-green and slightly twisted, growing to approximately 4 to 7cm
- Bark: The bark on the trunk is a reddish brown-grey, with deep fissures in between
- Soft or hardwood: Softwood
Sitka Spruce
Its timber is used to make furniture.
Sitka spruce has a high strength-to-weight ratio and is well known for its working properties. As a result, most of the timber used in this country comes from Sitka spruce.
- Lifespan: Up to 800 years
- Height: Can grow up to 100m
- Leaves: Short, blue-green, waxy leaves called needles
- Bark: Greyish-brown and flakes off in round scales when matures
- Soft or hardwood: Softwood
Sweet Chestnut
All sweet chestnut will be ancient from 400 years onwards
Sweet chestnuts, loved by the Romans
- Lifespan: 1000 years but some can live longer
- Height: Up to 35m
- Leaves: About 16–28 cm long, 5–9 cm wide and oblong with a pointed tip and a serrated or toothed edge
- Bark: The young tree is smooth and silvery-purple but becomes more textured and furrowed with age
- Soft or hardwood: Hardwood
Yew Tree
The yew is one of the longest-lived native species in Europe.
Traditionally, the wood was used in turnery and to make long bows and tool handles
- Lifespan: Up to 3,000 years
- Height: Can grow up to 20m
- Leaves: Needle-like leaves which grow in two rows along a twig. Underneath, the needles each have a raised central vein.
- Bark: The bark is reddish-brown with purple tones, and peeling.
- Soft or hardwood: Softwood
At Longwood are aim is to restore the woodland and bring back the planted ancient woodlands sites (PAWS).
Why do we clear fell (cut down part of woods)
Many who live near woodlands may notice small areas being cut down. It seems quite harsh; aren’t trees an important source of carbon absorption? So, why is this happening? Are we damaging the environment by doing so?
The answer is no, sustainable forest management is essential for maximising a forest’s carbon-capturing capability. By adopting these practices, we can combat climate change effectively.
In Longwood 2024, we made a conscious choice to fell only 4 hectares of the 124 hectares under our care. This careful felling management included negative thinning on 2.5 hectares, which promoted the growth of smaller trees. This increased light access on the forest floor, and we are actively fostering a thriving ecosystem where diverse plant and animal life can flourish. This approach demonstrates our commitment to sustainable forestry and biodiversity enhancement.
Furthermore, in select sections of the woodlands, after harvesting the existing crop, the Longwood management team will replant a variety of trees, such as broadleaved non-native beech, red oak, and sweet chestnut, actively restoring sites to their ancient woodland state. This proactive approach ensures the health and longevity of our forest for generations to come.
Woodlands have always been used as a commodity
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