Biodiversity Action Plan

Upland Oak / Birchwoods

Woodland dominated by oak and birch was probably one of the most common habitats over much of the Peak District in prehistoric times, but today it is mostly confined to the Dark Peak cloughs and valley sides largely as a result of inaccessibility. There are also particular concentrations along the River Derwent.

Many oakwoods contain fragments of other habitats such as wet woodland at the bottom of the cloughs, increasing the wildlife interest.

Nationally, upland semi-natural woodlands have declined by 30 to 40% over the last 60 years. Locally this was probably due to a fall in demand for coppice products for charcoal making and tanning. This meant that management declined and the woodlands deteriorated and were lost to other land uses such as grazing. Added to this, forestry policy encouraged replacement with conifers up until 1985.

Upland oak / birchwoods often support irreplaceable ancient woodland communities with plants like hazel, wood anemone and bluebell, upland birds like pied flycatcher and wood warbler; and invertebrates such as the locally increasing purple hairstreak.

Upland oak / birchwoods action plan (300KB)

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Upland Oak Woodland Project