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Home > Spaces and species > LandLife > Wood-pasture and parkland

Wood-pasture and parkland

Woburn Park. Photo by Chris Smallwood

National lead organisation:

Natural England

Local lead organisation:

Bedfordshire Woodland Forum

Wood-pasture and parkland are two related habitats that feature livestock grazing and trees. Both habitats include large, open-grown trees in grazed grass, heath or woods. Parkland in particular is known for ‘veteran’ trees. These trees are very old. They have a special ecology and support many rare insect, fungus and lichen species. Both wood-pasture and parkland have historic as well as ecological interest.

Wood-pasture and parkland in Bedfordshire and Luton

At least 95 parkland sites can be identified in the county but only remnants of most sites remain. Many parkland sites have been turned into farmland or golf courses. The two largest parks at Woburn and Woodbury were probably once over 3000 ha. Woburn Park is our only current example of working wood-pasture. Cattle used to graze in Ampthill Park but were removed in the 1990s.

Check out these links to learn more about wood-pasture and parkland:

National action plan for lowland wood-pasture and parkland

Bedfordshire & Luton action plan for wood-pasture and parkland

WAPIS - Wood-pasture and Parkland Information System

Wood-pastures (Royal Forestry Society)

Advice on managing BAP habitats: lowland wood pastures and parkland (Buglife)

Notable species associated with lowland wood-pasture (Buglife)

Farming the historic landscape - caring for historic parkland (English Heritage)

Working with the historic environment (Forestry Commission)

Estimating the age of large and veteran trees in Britain (Forestry Commission)

Veteran trees (Forestry Commission)

Domestic stock grazing to enhance forest biodiversity (Forestry Commission)