Ancient woodland given a chance to return to its original state of beauty under the protection of mankind
Edited by Lianne Lee
Photo from BBC news
Hertfordshire, a city in southern England, is famous for its greenery and cinematic landscapes. One of its most iconic landmarks is the forest just a few hours from London, Astonbury Wood. It spans roughly 54 acres and has been around since the early 1600s. Its long life on this planet has allowed for the flourishing of a unique ecosystem.
In early spring, Astonbury wood gets carpeted woodland flowers like wood anemone, a species of white 6-petalled flower. The forest floors are also blanketed with large cascading sheets of bluebells under the trees during the temperate season and are the home of hundreds of fungi species.
However, due to the rapid expansion of mankind especially after the industrial revolution, the woodlands have shrunk rapidly, and have gotten to a stage where it is small enough that in 2020, the remainder of the woodland was put up for sale.
Fortunately, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust raised around 104,000 pounds to purchase the woodland for 125 years, and have decided to place the area under their protection to preserve what’s left of the forest. Plans to restore the woodland to what it was are currently underway, and intricate paths have been mapped for tourists to experience its beauty, and understand the importance of maintaining the vast network of life.
Under the protection of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the future of Astonbury Wood has been secured and given a fighting chance to return to its former glory.
Source
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65038261
