We only have until December to raise the funds we need to buy this incredible area of damaged ancient woodland. Please support our urgent appeal to buy Harrison Woodlands and bring it back to life.
Recorded in the Domesday book, Harrison Woodlands is truly special. It is a vast ancient woodland stretching across the magnificent Lincolnshire Wolds in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
But the wood is badly damaged after being clear felled and planted with non-native conifers. If we don't start vital restoration work soon, we stand to lose another precious ancient woodland forever.
The woodland is home to goshawks that can be seen weaving in and out of the trees, and one of only four known pairs of nesting ravens in Lincolnshire. It's also one of the few places in the region where you can spot the white admiral butterfly.
Harrison Woodlands is steeped in history too. There are two late Neolithic to late Bronze Age bowl barrows that are scheduled ancient monuments. They mark the site of a Neolithic burial ground.
of ancient woodland need urgent help
This will be the second largest restoration project we have ever undertaken in England.
needs to be raised
We only have until December to raise the funds to buy the site, start restoration work and manage it for the first year.
This is Harrison Woodlands, nearly 200 hectares of beautiful but badly damaged ancient woodland in the East Midlands.
Time is running out to save this magnificent site near Louth in Lincolnshire. We have just a few weeks left to raise more than £3 million to buy it and begin the urgent restoration it so desperately needs.
If we can bring Harrison Woodlands into our care we can protect rare and incredible wildlife like the goshawk, raven and white admiral butterfly.
We'll thin the non-native conifers, overcrowded beech and dying ash trees, letting in light and allowing the wood to spring back to life. We'll clear the choking rhododendron, encouraging bluebells, wood anemone and herb paris to colonise the woodland floor. And we'll be throwing open the gates so local people can visit like they used to.
Please support our urgent appeal to save Harrison Woodlands. If we are unable to meet the deadline, this wonderful wood may be resold to a commercial timber concern. Its dormant ancient soils are unlikely to survive another cycle of clear felling and conifer planting. The clock is ticking and every pound donated counts.
Thank you.
The chance to buy and restore Harrison Woodlands is one we cannot miss. It is the most significant wood in the area and an important ancient woodland.
With your support, we can save an irreplaceable piece of ancient woodland and restore it into a thriving, biodiverse habitat for future generations.
But we must act quickly—if we can't raise the purchase price by December, the woodland will be sold to a commercial concern. It is unlikely its dormant ancient soils will survive another cycle of clear felling and conifer planting. Please help us protect and restore it while we still can.
If ever there was a site which encompasses our conservation principles, it's this one. Being able to bring this wonderful wood into our care would see a valuable and irreplaceable ancient woodland, and its wildlife, given a vibrant and healthy future.
By donating to our Harrison Woodlands appeal, you will be supporting our work to restore this damaged ancient woodland.
Credit: Phil Formby / WTML
By removing invasive species like rhododendron, we'll encourage a wide range of woodland indicator flowers like wood anemone, woodruff and bluebells to return. We'll also remove large areas of trees severely affected by ash dieback. Installing deer fencing will allow for natural regeneration to take hold.
Credit: Phil Formby / WTML
Through the management of rides, veteran trees and retention of deadwood, we'll ensure that biodiverse habitats are available to support the local wildlife. As restoration progresses, we're confident that warblers and breeding birds including great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper and tree sparrow will return to Harrison Woodlands.
Credit: Phil Formby / WTML
Harrison Woodlands is in poor ecological condition. It has a woodland structure consisting mainly of non-native conifers and dense stands of beech. Gradually thinning the conifer plantation will allow the remnant ancient woodland species to reclaim the wood.
Credit: Phil Formby / WTML
As soon as it is safe to do so, we'll open the gates again for everyone to freely enjoy walks alongside wildlife including the hare, nuthatch and goldcrest.
Ancient woodland soils are the remnants of a life-creating and life-sustaining complex terrestrial system. Yet ancient woodland only covers 2.5% of the UK's land area, and most of what remains is not in good condition. For our own survival we must protect it, restore it and allow it to thrive.
Please donate whatever you can to help us save this ancient woodland. Every pound you can give will be used to buy Harrison Woodlands and bring it back to its former glory, for nature and for people.
Call us on 0330 333 3300 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, and our friendly team will be there to assist.
Send a cheque to our head office at Harrison Woodlands Appeal, Woodland Trust, Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL. Please make cheques payable to the Woodland Trust.
