The wonders of ancient woodlands - new podcast episode out now

The wonders of ancient woodlands - new podcast episode out now

Image by Pat Doody

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.
An ash coppice stool, several meters across, made up of a 'crown' of 70-year old ash trunks several meters across

The oldest tree in Wistow Wood? An ancient ash stool - could be around 500 years old.