Description

Though most of us have enjoyed strolling through local woods, we might not be aware of the ancient – and often complex – origins of our surroundings. From medieval times, woodlands were carefully managed commodities with hotly contested resources: conflicting demands from landowners, the Crown, the peasantry and local and national wood-based industries have all left their marks on today’s woodland. Ian Rotherham here explains the various uses of our woods and their industries – such as coppicing, charcoal burning, basketmaking and bodging – and helps us to find the clues that can piece our woodland history together.