Telling Woods from the Trees

Surprising Truths About the Conifer Revolution

When walking through the woodlands of Sidmouth and East Devon, it is easy to be captivated by the towering, uniform ranks of green conifers. Sites like Fire Beacon Hill and Bulverton Hill offer a dense, cathedral-like atmosphere that many visitors mistake for timeless, wild nature. However, as an environmental historian looks closer, these landscapes reveal themselves not as ancient wildspaces, but as industrial legacies—carefully managed plantations that are only now reaching the end of a century-long cycle

.Why are these specific trees standing where they are, and what did they replace? The truth is that our familiar "wild" spaces were born from an era of national emergency, designed with an industrial mindset that we are only just beginning to untangle.

Our Forests are a Military Legacy

The vast conifer plantations we see today were not designed for recreation or biodiversity; they were a matter of national survival. Following two World Wars, Britain found itself a nation stripped of its timber. The critical shortages experienced during these conflicts exposed a dangerous vulnerability in national security, leading to a desperate push for "strategic timber reserves.

"The Forestry Commission was formed in 1919 with a singular, paramilitary mission: to ensure the UK would never again run out of wood. This saw forests reimagined as a crop to be cultivated with industrial efficiency on infertile land, moorland, and even within existing ancient woodlands. As the historical records confirm:"

The 20th-century boom was largely driven by a national effort to rebuild strategic timber reserves following timber shortages experienced during the wars.

The Silent Loss of Ancient Woodlands

While the 20th-century afforestation effort successfully increased tree cover, the ecological cost was profound. Between the 1950s and 1970s, a "conversion" period took place that was often subversive in its execution. Rather than just planting on empty fields, foresters frequently used "interplanting"—placing fast-growing conifers within existing beech plantations or ancient broadleaf woods.

Over time, these conifers choked out the original forest from within. The scale of this transformation was staggering:  29% of ancient woodland in the UK was cleared and replanted with conifers during the 20th century.  The dense canopy of these plantations created a deep, year-round shade, while the resulting carpet of needle litter acidified the soil. This effectively "silenced" the diverse botanical life of the forest floor, inhibiting the growth of native plants that had thrived for centuries.

We Are Currently at a Forestry Crossroads

The trees planted during the mid-century push are reaching maturity right now. Because these species were planted in massive waves between the 1950s and 1970s, we have entered a peak harvesting era that will last until the 2050s. This maturity presents a unique crossroads: do we commit to a "second rotation" of timber, or return the land to nature?

This decision is further complicated by new biological challenges. As seen in the table below, some of our most common plantation species are now facing existential threats.

Species Primary Industrial Use Harvest Window Notes

Sitka Spruce Very fast-growing; high yield 1990s – 2030 Dominates upland commercial forestry.

Norway Spruce Straight growth; traditional timber Currently due Preferred in southern lowlands.

Douglas Fir High-quality structural timber 2020s – 2040s Common at Bulverton Hill. 

Larch Rot-resistant; deciduous conifer Already due / Soon Now restricted due to disease (Phytophthora). 

Nature is Patiently Waiting Underground

One of the most remarkable discoveries in sustainable forestry is the resilience of the "seed bank." Even after seventy years buried under a dark, unnatural conifer cover, the soil often retains its memory of the past.

At sites like Muttersmoor, foresters have witnessed a phenomenon that feels like magic: a positive "eruption" of regenerated growth once the dense conifers are removed. This dormant native vegetation—herbal plants, heather, and gorse—simply waits for the light to return. It proves that the ancient ecosystem has not been destroyed; it is merely waiting for the industrial canopy to be thinned so it can thrive once again.

"Veteranisation" – Helping Young Trees Act Old

In the 20th century, decay was viewed as a "failure" of timber production—a sign of waste. Today, we recognise that decay is a hallmark of a healthy, biodiverse forest. To accelerate the restoration of our woods, managers are now using a technique called  veteranisation .

Rather than waiting centuries for trees to age naturally, foresters use intentional cuts to mimic the damage found in ancient "veteran" trees. This includes the technical practice of ring-barking standing trees  to create standing deadwood. By creating artificial hollows and rot pockets, managers provide immediate habitats for fungi, bats, and birds. This marks a radical shift in our role as stewards: we are no longer just growing straight logs; we are engineering the "beautiful" decay necessary for life.

What Should a Forest Be?

We are currently witnessing a pivot from the industrial mindset of the 1900s to a 21st-century model of ecological restoration. The East Devon Forest Plan is a testament to this shift, moving away from pure commercial yield to prioritise the restoration of native broadleaf woods and rare  Lowland Heathland .As the final stands of the post-war "conifer revolution" reach their harvest dates in the Sidmouth area, we must decide the character of our future landscape. Should we prioritise the next rotation of commercial timber, or should we foster the return of the native habitats that have been waiting patiently in the soil? As the stewards of this transition, our choice will define the British countryside for the next hundred years.