Woodland Wildlife Toolkit

This toolkit provides advice on managing woodlands for wildlife, in particular rare and declining species that are dependent on woodland habitats. Different tabs lead to the following resources:
– Woodland guidance: practical advice on management techniques, information on woodland management issues and legal considerations.
– Species factsheets: summary information for all the species in the toolkit.
– Search your wood’s wildlife: find out which important wildlife is likely to be in or near your woodland based on available survey or distribution data, understand the habitats and features that these species need, and provide these habitats through practical woodland management.
– Assess your wood’s condition: get an overview of the condition of your wood’s habitats and identify any issues you may need to address.

See also the separate entry for Woodland management for bats. These guides emphasise the importance of encouraging a good understorey of native shrubs in the woodland, to provide food and shelter for wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and small mammals.

This toolkit has been developed by the following partners: Bat Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Forestry Commission, Natural England, Plantlife, RSPB, Sylva Foundation and Woodland Trust.