The Chilterns is a heavily wooded landscape, with the famous
beechwoods the jewel in the crown. The changing colours of these
woods, through spring green above carpets of bluebells to rich
autumn golds adds variety and beauty to the Chiltern Hills.
The area has been well wooded for hundreds of years and today
is still one of the most wooded parts of England with over one
fifth covered by woodland. Ash, cherry and oak are widespread
as well as beech. The Chilterns used to support a wide range
of woodland industries including chair-making. Today, the woods
are still harvested for timber but management for amenity, recreation
and wildlife value has become equally important.
In these pages you can learn about the history of Chiltern woods, their wildlife, the uses
of Chilterns timber and how the future looks for the woodlands. You can also find out what the Chiltern
Woodlands Project is doing to help look after our magnificent
woodland heritage.
