The wonders of ancient woodlands - new podcast episode out now | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants

Senior Reserves Manager Matt Hamilton takes podcast host Sophie Baker on a tour of Wistow Wood, an ancient woodland of the Fen Edge in Cambridgeshire.

Wistow Wood really is a wonderful place, full of weird and wonderful coppice stools, the problems of ash dieback and a lot of innovation and experimentation for how best to ensure the resilience of these irreplaceable habitats. Listen to the latest episode of In Conservation to find out how we're working to look after ancient woodlands and just what it is that makes them such special places for wildlife - and for people.

Scroll down to find some photos of some of the things we saw on the day - including the magnificent and unusual oldest tree in the woodland (probably...)

Credits

Podcast host and producer: Sophie Baker
Interviewee: Matt Hamilton
BCN Beauties: Ruth Hawksley
Podcast music: Written and performed by James Williams. Mixed and produced by Jared Wentwick.

A wide coppice stool covered in moss and with many holes in it has one trunk growing out of it

Ash coppice stool at Wistow Wood by Sophie Baker

Two ash trees side by side, one canopy severely thinned by ash dieback and another looking much bushier

The impact of ash dieback at Wistow Wood: ash trees side by side, the ones on the left are suffering with ash dieback and have thinned canopies; the one on the right looks much fuller. And a clear-felled area in front, with tree guards protecting a range of species that have been planted to increase the species diversity in the woodland.

Image by Sophie Baker