Ancient : Reviving the Woods That Made Britain

Ancient woods are Britain's richest habitats: rare fragments of our landscape that teem with life from soil to canopy. They live in our collective imagination as quiet places, best left pristine and untouched. But their story has always been one of interdependence with people. Now, as ever, these woods—including remnants of the primeval 'wildwood'—need the thoughtful intervention of humans to survive. With over twenty years' experience rehabilitating ancient woodland, Luke Barley brings us deep into this hidden world to reveal majestic oaks, freshly coppiced hazels, endangered limes, and the passionate individuals tending them for future generations. From the Lakes to the Peak District, by way of suburban London's hidden gems, these irreplaceable natural jewels are being brought back to life. As modern woodlanders judiciously cut and fell, the flood of fresh light brings new hope to the forest floor. With clear-sighted passion and lyrical prose, Barley reveals what we stand to gain—as individuals and as a society—by rekindling our ancient connection with these special places.