WOODLANDS
Why woods matter
Woods, and the trees that make up a vital component of them, are essential to life. They have a myriad of different benefits for both wildlife and people.
They stabilise the soil, generate oxygen, store carbon, play host to a spectacular variety of wildlife, provide us with raw materials and shelter, inspire our imaginations and our creativity.
The almost magical, mystical quality of woods makes them a great place for relaxation and recreation. A walk in the woods can give anyone a feeling of peace and tranquillity. Most of us have fond childhood memories of playing on or around trees.
Woodland’s in the Summer
By mid-summer, the woodland trees are usually in full bloom and as the sun filters through them it throws shafts and pools of light on the deep green woodland floor.
The ground is often surprisingly damp and the air of the wood cool and humid even in summer, but where there wood opens up into glades it feels warmer and you can often find a plethora of wild flowers like foxgloves and magenta bells and if you’re lucky the odd orchid or two. 
There is also a hive of activity with insects and other invertebrates, like wasps and bumblebees and butterflies such as silver-washed fritillaries, flitting and feasting on these flowers and the high chirping of hungry fledgling birds waiting for their parents to return with food.
There is a lot more to woodland wildlife, if you look a little beyond this. There is a wealth of wildlife from flowers to fungi. So, next time you are in a wood, try to see beyond the bluebells and see if you can identify some of the other less glamorous wildlife that resides there. 
How about you?
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