What is woodland?

Woodland is an assemblage of closely planted trees with associations of other plants and animals. They have grown up naturally but may have been extensively managed particularly in the past.

Woods and forests protect soils, retain moisture and store and recycle nutrients. They play a major role in maintaining the world climate, and their destruction releases carbon into the atmosphere causing climate change.

A distinction is made between primary and secondary woodland. Primary woodland is woodland that has been in existence since the last Ice Age, while secondary woodland, is woodland that has grown up in land that originally had some other use. This secondary woodland may be as old as ancient woodland but is known to have grown up over some former land use.

Woodlands are complex ecosystems and not only include obvious organisms such as trees and shrubs but also those living in the soil such as mycorrhizae (root fungi) which cannot be easily be seen.

Many species depend on the specialized conditions found in woodland for example, shade, deadwood, dampness and are therefore unlikely to be found outside this habitat.
What is woodland?