This is an ongoing project collecting images of all of the ancient woodland indicator species for Dorset. Ancient woodland in England are woods which have had continuous cover since 1600. Determining the age of a woodland involves a desk study of old maps, estate records and other historical evidence and then conducting field studies. These look for archaeological evidence such as boundary banks and ditches, charcoal hearths and saw pits and also biological features such as veteran boundary trees and ancient woodland indicator species. In Dorset we have 98 plants associated with ancient woodland, many will often be found in secondary woods and old hedge banks too, but some, such as Herb Paris and Bird’s Nest Orchids are generally only found in ancient woodland. As most of these are spring flowering, and some very rare, it may take me some time to complete this project.
Jo Stephen Photography 