Natural habitats

10,500 years ago, after the last Ice Age, a thick oak and lime forest, ‘The Wildwood’, spread across Warwickshire. Large herds of deer roamed and birds, butterflies and other wild animals flourished. Small nomadic bands of people lived off this abundant wild plant and animal life.

Then, about 6,000 years ago, farming people arrived in the area. They began to fell woodland to create fields and planted crops, kept cattle and built homes.

Over the centuries, man’s uses have occupied more and more of the land. Traditional agriculture produced beautiful flower-rich hay meadows and ‘unimproved’ pasture that was very species rich. Woodland was managed by ‘coppicing,’ which resulted in diverse woodland conditions with lots of flowery clearings.

But following World War II, Britain attempted to become self sufficient for food. Unimproved pastures and meadows were ploughed, fertilised and re-seeded which reduced their value for wildlife. Coppicing almost completely ceased, with conifers being introduced into many ancient woods.

Today, very little natural habitat remains, but that which does is highly valuable. The Habitat Biodiversity Audit maintains computerised maps showing the location and type of all surviving habitats in the Warwickshire, Solihull and Coventry area. The Warwickshire Wildlife Sites Project is currently ensuring that the best examples that are not legally protected SSSIs, become designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation.

We recognise that many of the brownfield sites in the county are of critical importance for wildlife and attempts to protect these through the planning system. Some are now country parks such as Kingsbury Water Park, Ufton Fields and Ryton Pools.