Upland oakwoods are characterised by a predominance of oak (most commonly sessile but locally pedunculate) and birch. They occur generally above 200 m but may be found as low as sea level on thin acid soils and steep slopes.

In South West England they provide some of the most important habitats for wildlife in the region. Although heavily influenced by man for thousands of years, they are nonetheless one of the closest habitats to the natural climax vegetation of the uplands.

The majority of these woodlands are found in the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, however there are a number of smaller but equally important sites further west in Cornwall. They have traditionally been managed for charcoal and tanbark through coppicing where trees are regularly cut near to the ground to produce new shoots. Since the 1940s there has been a dramatic decline in this form of management. The character of the woodlands is slowly changing as the trees that were once regulary cut grow out and revert to 'high forest'.

Upland oakwoods are particularly valuable for their communities of epiphytic lichens which thrive in the clean, humid air. Many sites, including Horner Wood, Golitha Falls and Wistmans Wood are designated as National Nature Reserves in recognition of their outstanding wildlife value, and in particular their lichen interest.

There are believed to be between 70,000 and 100,000 ha of this habitat in the UK. The South West holds approximately 4,700 ha. This is made up of 2,800 ha on Exmoor and the Quantocks, 1,600 ha on Dartmoor and 300 ha in Cornwall. The following table gives some examples of upland oakwood sites in the region.

The following are examples of species that depend on upland oakwoods, some of which are of conservation concern:

One of the key problems that faces our upland oakwoods is changes in the way they are managed. In many cases the woods are not managed at all. Traditionally foresters would coppice trees regularly in different parts of woods in different years. This resulted in a wood full of trees of all ages and consequently provided a richer environment. Since this practice has all but stopped we are now left in many cases with dense stands of even aged oak with very few veteran or young trees.

Conversely, in some cases damage has occurred where traditional management has changed. For instance in some areas overgrazing by voracious sheep has prevented young sapling trees developing. In other areas undergrazing has allowed brambles to swamp out moss and bryophyte-rich ground flora. Woodlands are often very delicate. In some cases ancient woodlands have been lost altogether beneath conifer plantations or altered by the removal of old trees and replanting with inappropriate species.

As ever, ownership by wildlife friendly organisations is the best protection for habitats. In this the South West both the Upper Dart and Teign Valleys are managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust as nature reserves. Naturally, the Forestry Authority has control over many hectares of woodland and has a presumption against clearance of native woodland for conifers/agriculture. Other sites have statutory protection through SSSI or NNR designation and individual trees can be protected through Local Authority declared Tree Preservation Orders.

Beyond this many organisations, such as the Forestry Authority, Local Authorities and the Wildlife Trusts provide advice to landowners on woodland management and creation. Local Authorities in some cases also offer `free tree’ schemes.

On Dartmoor, a contract with Institute for Terrestrial Ecology to assess the potential for the creation of new native woodland has been secured. Dartmoor is one of a number of uplands areas being assessed in terms of its potential for new native woodland.