When we think of our countryside we naturally consider woodland as a vital part of that picture. Sadly however, tree cover in the British Isles has been in decline ever since our Neolithic ancestors first employed their stone axes to serious effect in clearing the land for agriculture.

The more recent past has seen a long-term acceleration of this destruction to the point that the UK now is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with tree cover at only 12 per cent of the total land area.

This statistic becomes even more depressing when coniferous plantation is removed from the figure — reducing the total to little more than five per cent (of indigenous arboreal species).

Semi-natural ancient woodlands, being those that have been in continuous natural existence since at least 1600AD are represented at a mere two per cent, or so, of total land cover.

To make matters worse, 80 per cent of these remaining ancient woods are less than 20 hectares in size, rendering them particularly vulnerable to many serious pressures – not least those threats still posed by man (most of these woodlands have little real protection in law or by requirements placed on owners for active and positive management).

While the south of England enjoys a greater share of both ancient and planted woods than the rest of the country, Oxfordshire is not particularly well endowed in this respect.

However, in common with much of the rest of the British Isles, there are national and local trusts and organisations that are enhancing, re-establishing and creating woodlands across the county for the benefit of all.

To get a good taste of this, the walker couldn’t do much better than to experience the Oxfordshire Woodlands Group’s Broad Arboretum, near Little Wittenham. Planted in 1998 and opened in spring 2008, the site is managed by The Northmoor Trust and provides open access for all who wish to see forty-nine species of tree that are indigenous to the county.

To help the amateur in identifying the individual shrubs and trees represented, carved posts give both common and Latin names. Here you will find Common Whitebeam rubbing shoulders with Large-leaved lime, Rowan and Alder buckthorn amidst two acres of other common and less common specimens.

Nearby at Long Wittenham the trust have created a ten thousand tree oak wood, covering four and a half acres. Neptune Wood will take many decades to reach any kind of maturity but this community-aided endeavour is a shining example of the long-term planning that such environmental projects require.

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) are also stewards to some of the county’s most special woodlands.

Foxholes Reserve, near Bruern Abbey, is an especially wonderful place to amble as summer slowly edges towards autumn. Old oaks, majestic beeches and ash coppice form the major populations of species present and these provide a perfect environment for over two hundred species of fungi to flourish.

Of these the archetypal fairy toadstool (white spotted red cap) the Fly agaric is present along with a number of other poisonous members of the genus.

False death cap, easily confused with Death cap (the most deadly of all European fungi and responsible for over 90 per cent of all recorded deaths from mushroom poisoning) is likewise present.

Milkcaps and russulas can also be found here, each individual species of which is specifically associated with an individual tree species.

At the other end of the county, The Warburg Reserve (near Bix) boasts a wealth of specimen oaks and beech trees along with hazel, ash, birch and field maple.

The range of fungi recorded here is even more impressive at over 900 species, of which the violet-purple hues of Amethyst deceiver is one of the more pretty of its family.

Elsewhere BBOWTs’ Oxfordshire woodland reserves include Rushbed Woods, Whitecross Green Wood and Sydlings Copse, all providing nature lovers with the opportunity to enjoy walking amongst a varied mix of tree species.

The Woodland Trust similarly owns and manages a number of Oxfordshire Woodlands, some of these newly created such as Eynsham Wood. This site was planted, again with the help of local volunteers, in the year 2000.

Wild cherry and crab apple feature here and a wealth of native shrubs enhance the margins and include spindle and wild privet. A public bridleway runs along the western edge of the site.

The previous woodland adjoins that area of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds known as the Wychwood Forest, where again much good work is being undertaken to restore woodland to prime condition.

Another organisation, The Wychwood Project was formed in 1997 to raise awareness of the history and identity of the area, and to work with local communities to restore its rich patchwork of landscapes and habitats within the Forest boundaries.

As part of this activity is involved in much woodland restoration in the area. The Wychwood Forest itself is a ‘forest’ in the traditional sense of the word, being an open landscape containing trees and woodland in which Royal hunting was the prime activity. Established in 1086 the Wychwood Forest incorporates a number of relatively extensive blocks of woodland including the Foxholes Reserve mentioned earlier.

And what of the animals and plants that can be looked for in our woodlands at this time of year. Of our birdlife, a good eye and some quiet patience may reward the watcher with sightings of great spotted and lesser spotted woodpeckers, alongside other arboreal specialists such as Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Woodland margins are where to look out for Bullfinch and Jay, whilst the deeper wood might hold Tawny owl or Woodcock.

September sees the last blooms of such typical woodland plants as Foxglove whilst other poisonous woodland plants such as the extremely toxic Deadly nightshade and its relative Woody Nightshade (otherwise known as Bittersweet) will be in fruit. Wild Honeysuckle, or Woodbine, is common across much of the region and graces many Oxfordshire woods and will delight the finder.

While the planting of young trees is a most welcome step forward in conservation it is also important to note that dead wood is a most important feature of woodlands, supporting as it does so many invertebrates.

Rare in Oxfordshire, Britain’s largest terrestrial insect, the stag beetle, can still be found in a few localities in the county. To give this increasingly uncommon and impressive creature a chance to survive in our corner of the country it is vital that we don’t become too tidy-minded about our woodlands. The life and the death of trees combine to provide a platform for so many other members of our flora and fauna to build populations upon.