Name
|
Location
|
Size (hectares)
|
Description
|
References
|
Alice Holt Forest
|
Hampshire
|
850
|
A former Royal forest, Alice Holt is a multi-purpose forest. It is the headquarters for Forest Research and was the first Research Forest in Britain.
|
[3]
|
Bedford Purlieus
|
Cambridgeshire
|
208
|
Bedford Purlieus has been a nature reserve since 2000. It was once part of the Royal forest of Rockingham. The forest houses a large number of different plants and insect species.
|
[4][5]
|
Bedgebury Pinetum
|
Kent
|
320
|
Bedgebury Pinetum has the largest collection of Conifers in the world. It was started in the 1840s and experienced expansion under the control of the Forestry Commission and Kew Gardens from 1925. The Commission took sole ownership of the Pinetum in 1965.
|
[6][7]
|
Bernwood Forest
|
Oxfordshire
|
136
|
A former royal hunting forest, Bernwood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its diverse range of butterfly species.
|
[8][9]
|
Cannock Forest
|
Staffordshire
|
2300
|
Cannock Forest is within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of Cannock Chase. The Forestry Commission uses the forest for commercial and recreational purposes.
|
[10][11][12]
|
Cardinham Woods
|
Cornwall
|
260
|
Cardinham Woods have been managed by the Forestry Commission since 1922. The Commission maintains the woods for commercial purposes and general recreation.
|
[13][14]
|
Neroche Forest
|
Somerset
|
1000
|
Neroche Forest is within the Blackdown Hills. The forest is home to Castle Neroche and one of the Forestry Commission's forest school projects.
|
[15][16]
|
Dalby Forest
|
North Yorkshire
|
3440
|
Dalby Forest is within the North York Moors national park. It is home to several rare insect species.
|
[17][18][19]
|
Delamere Forest
|
Cheshire
|
972
|
Delamere is the largest forest in Cheshire, though was once part of the larger Forests of Mara and Mondrem. The Sandstone Trail passes through the forest.
|
[20][21]
|
Dunwich Forest
|
Suffolk
|
270
|
Dunwich Forest was primarily a commercial coniferous forest until 2006, when the Forestry Commission and partner organisations began to convert it to mixed woodland and heathland.
|
[22][23]
|
Dymock Woods
|
Gloucestershire
|
506
|
Dymock Woods contains a Site of Special Scientific Interest and some ancient woodland.
|
[24]
|
Forest of Bere
|
Hampshire
|
|
The Forestry Commission manages the remnants of the former royal forest of Bere. The Forest of Bere was one of the forests passed to the Commission upon its establishment in 1919. It has been a major timber forest, providing wood for shipbuilding and resulting in fluctuating forest cover.
|
[25][26]
|
Forest of Dean
|
Gloucestershire
|
12000
|
The Forest of Dean is an ancient forest. It contains the largest number of ancient oak trees anywhere in Britain.
|
[27][28]
|
Friston Forest
|
East Sussex
|
850
|
Friston Forest contains many walking and cycling routes. It is in the South Downs and is home to some rare butterflies.
|
[29][30]
|
Gravetye Estate
|
West Sussex
|
611
|
The Gravetye Estate consists of multiple woodlands of both broadleaved trees and conifers. The forest surrounds Gravetye Manor, a privately owned hotel and restaurant.
|
[31]
|
Grizedale Forest
|
Cumbria
|
2447
|
Grizedale Forest is within the Lake District National Park, near Windermere. The forest is mainly recreational, with several biking trails and waymarked paths.
|
[32][33]
|
Guisborough Forest
|
North Yorkshire
|
468
|
Guisborough Forest is within the boundaries of the North York Moors.
|
[34][35]
|
Haldon Forest
|
Devon
|
3500
|
Haldon Forest Park provides a habitat for over 30 butterfly species and many birds of prey. The Forestry Commission maintains several walking an cycling trails across the forest.
|
[36][37]
|
Hamsterley Forest
|
County Durham
|
2000
|
The Forestry Commission claims that Hamsterley Forest is one of the most popular attractions in County Durham. The Forest has a large number of cycling and walking trails.
|
[38][39][40]
|
Kesteven Forest
|
Lincolnshire
|
|
Kesteven Forest covers several woods, including the Bourne Woods.
|
[41]
|
Kielder Forest
|
Northumberland
|
65000
|
Kielder is the largest artificial forest in England and remains one of the Forestry Commission's major timber producing forests. The forest has been under the management of the Commission since it was planted in the 1920s.
|
[42][43]
|
Mortimer Forest
|
Shropshire
|
1029
|
Mortimer Forest originally provided firewood for Ludlow Castle. It now contains several biking trails and walking routes as well as a permanent orienteering course.
|
[44][45]
|
New Forest
|
Hampshire
|
37677
|
The New Forest is an ancient forest that was planted around 1000 CE. Much of the forest has been within the New Forest National Park since 2005.
|
[46][47]
|
Parkhurst Forest
|
Isle of Wight
|
395
|
Parkhurst Forest is one of the oldest forests in England. It is home to rare plant and tree species as well as some less common insects.
|
[48][49]
|
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
|
Hampshire
|
570
|
Queen Elizabeth Country Park lies within the South Downs. It is managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of Hampshire County Council.
|
[50]
|
Rendlesham Forest
|
Suffolk
|
1500
|
Rendlesham Forest is best known for the Rendlesham Forest Incident. This incident provided the inspiration for the UFO themed recreational facilities.
|
[51][52]
|
Rockingham Forest
|
Northamptonshire
|
|
Rockingham Forest was a royal hunting forest. The Commission originally expanded the forest using fast growing conifers, but has begun a project to convert much of this to mixed woodland.
|
[53][54]
|
Salcey Forest
|
Northamptonshire
|
495
|
Salcey Forest has a 20 metre high "Tree Top Walkway". The forest is also made up of ancient woodland including 600-year-old oak trees.
|
[55][56][57]
|
Sheffield Forest
|
East Sussex
|
197
|
Sheffield Forest is located within the High Weald AONB.
|
[58][59]
|
St Leonard's Forest
|
West Sussex
|
289
|
St Leonard's Forest is at the western end of the Wealden Forest Ridge which runs from Horsham to Tonbridge, and is part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
|
[60]
|
Savernake Forest
|
Wiltshire
|
1100
|
Savernake Forest is privately owned and has been managed by the Forestry Commission since 1939 on a 999-year lease. The Commission has logging rights and operates a campsite within the forest.
|
[61][62]
|
Sherwood Forest
|
Nottinghamshire
|
1340
|
Sherwood Forest is an ancient forest known for its connections with Robin Hood. It is a former royal hunting forest that is mostly managed by the Forestry Commission.
|
[63][64]
|
Sherwood Pines
|
Nottinghamshire
|
1925
|
The forestry commission obtained a 999-year lease in 1925. The forest also has a visitor centre and forest activities.
|
[65][66]
|
Thetford Forest
|
East Anglia
|
19000
|
Thetford Forest was created by the Forestry Commission in 1922 for commercial logging. Recreational facilities, such as waymarked paths and cycle trails have been developed since.
|
[67][68]
|
Wendover Woods
|
Buckinghamshire
|
325
|
Wendover Woods are on the Chiltern Hills. The woods are made up of a mixture of coniferous and broad leafed trees.
|
[69]
|
Westonbirt Arboretum
|
Gloucestershire
|
250
|
The Westonbirt Arboretum was established in 1829 and given to the Forestry Commission in 1956. The arboretum contains approximately 16000 trees from around the world.
|
[70][71]
|
Whinlatter Forest
|
Cumbria
|
1226
|
The Forestry Commission claims that Whinlatter Forest is "the only true Mountain Forest" in England. The forest is 790 metres above sea level and is located within the Lake District National Park. It has been mostly used as a recreational forest since 1965.
|
[72][73]
|
Wyre Forest
|
Worcestershire / Shropshire
|
2600
|
Wyre Forest is among the largest of Britain's ancient forests. Large parts of the forest are within a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
|
[74][75]
|