W14 Woodland - History

The NVC W14 woodland community is not just a collection of plants; it is a living record of environmental change and human industry. While Beech and Bramble dominate the landscape today, the story of how they arrived in Sidmouth involves thousands of years of migration and centuries of careful management.

Ancient Origins: A Late Arrival

Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is native to southern England but was a relatively late arrival to Britain after the last glaciation.

• The Timeline: It appeared roughly 6,000 years ago when the climate became drier.

• Natural Limits: Its natural spread may have been slowed by a general reduction in woodland cover across the country.

• Human Help: While naturally present, its range expanded significantly because humans found the tree incredibly useful.

The Age of Management (Medieval to 1800s)

During the medieval period, Beech was deliberately encouraged or planted. It was valued for various products, including furniture, tool handles, and firewood.

• The "Standard" System: In medieval management, Beech was often grown as "standards"—tall, straight trees grown for timber—within "coppice-with-standards" systems.

• The Plantation Boom: In the 1700s and 1800s, there was a major shift toward formal plantation forestry. Landowners preferred Beech because its straight trunks and shade tolerance made it an ideal timber crop.

• Site Selection: These plantations were typically established on former commons, marginal farmland, or wood-pastures. They thrived on the dry, acidic, or loamy soils of slopes and plateaus—exactly the landscape we see around Sidmouth today.

The 20th Century: The Rise of Conifers

The 20th century brought another wave of change. Following the World Wars, national efforts led by the Forestry Commission sought to build strategic timber reserves.

• Conversion: Many older Beech plantations were converted into mixed or conifer forestry.

• Douglas Fir: In Sidmouth, this history is clearly visible, as almost all local W14-like sites contain varying amounts of conifers, particularly Douglas Fir.

• Naturalisation: Some stands were never harvested and were left unmanaged, allowing them to develop the "semi-natural" characteristics we observe today.

The Future: What Happens Next?

Many of the conifers planted in Sidmouth as timber crops 75 years ago are now reaching maturity. However, the demand for this timber has shifted significantly.

This leaves our local woodlands at a crossroads:

• What will happen to these areas once the conifer "crop" is eventually felled?

• Will the land be replanted with new commercial crops, or will it be left to regenerate naturally back into broadleaved Beech woodland?

While W14 woods may lack the high botanical variety of some ancient woods, they provide vital continuity of cover for local bird and invertebrate communities. Their future management will define the character of Sidmouth's hillsides for the next century.