Britain's woodland landscape is alive with a wide variety of inhabitants from tiny insects to large mammals such as deer. The woods offer a perfect habitat with plenty of food on offer.
Many woodlands are also extremely well established - often remaining very much as they had in ancient times - therefore perfect for many species of flora that may not thrive elsewhere.
Here are some of our recommendations for top Trust wooded areas:
Hatfield Forest, Essex
© NTPL / Paul Wakefield
This ancient forest was first mentioned in the Doomsday book. The medieval core of the forest remains and it is possible to chart the forest's evolution through coppiced areas designed for grazing. Over 400 different plant species have been recorded in the forest, including meadowsweet and wood speedwell, plus 36 native species of trees. Owls and woodpeckers are included in the forest's bird population alongside Fallow and Muntjac deer.
Bookham Common, Surrey
© National Trust
The earliest record of the wooded area on Bookham Common dates back to 666AD, where the Doomsday Book records the area as being kept for pigs to graze on acorns. The area is particularly interesting for the range of insects that it attracts - and includes a variety of national rarities - especially beetles, flies and butterflies. The ponds also provide a home to many amphibians and aquatic plants.
Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, Northumberland
© NTPL / Derek Croucher
Bluebells, ferns, ramson, wood fescue and moschatel are some of the ground plants found in this valley that suggest that the area is ancient woodland. Although increasingly rare now, the area was once home to the red squirrel and interestingly, the valley is the most northerly location for the dormouse.
Calke Parke, Derbyshire
© NTPL / Mike Williams
Today's deer-park at Calke is set in the ancient wooded landscape. Highlights of the park include the large numbers of very old oak, beech, ash and small-leaved lime trees. These ancient trees provide an important habitat for many insects and are so important that the park is rated as one of the top ten in Britain and Europe.
Other top wooded sites include:
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