Woodlands and Forestry
The distribution of woodland in the county reflects thousands of years of human activity in woodland clearance and planting. Woodland cover is low, around 6% compared to the national average of 9%. Woodlands are absent from the upland moors. Heavily wooded landscapes occur locally elsewhere and particularly in the main river valleys.
Riverside woods - Teesdale
Ancient semi-natural woodland occupies around 1.3% of the County. Most ancient woods lie on land unsuitable for agriculture on steep valley sides and ravines along rivers and streams. Oak and Oak-birch woodlands are typical of the acidic and neutral soils that cover much of the county and are a particular feature of the valleys of the coal measures.
Juniper Woodland, Moorhouse Upper Teesdale NNR
Ash woodlands are found on the limestones of upland gills and ravines and coastal denes. Alder woodlands occur locally on wetter ground.
Fragments of Juniper woodland survive in the moorland margins, including one of the largest stands of Juniper in Britain in the Moorhouse Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve.
The majority of woodlands in the county are plantations, established for timber production, landscape, amenity, shelter and game.
Many older woodlands were planted with broadleaved trees either local natives or introduced species like beech and sycamore.
The planting of conifers like Scots Pine and Larch for pit wood and farm timber became widespread in the 19th century and continued into the C20th with the development of large policy woodlands including Hamsterley Forest and The Stang in the upland fringes where Sitka Spruce is an important commercial species.
Hamsterley Forest
Around a third of the County’s woodlands are in public ownership, with the Forestry Commission owning the greater part of this. The County Council owns and manages around 1000 hectares of woodland, much on reclaimed former colliery land.
The North East Region holds an important part of the UK forestry resource, containing 10% of the woodland area in England and accounting for over 20% of its timber production. It also has a significant wood processing capability, containing two of the UK’s major wood panel manufacturers, one of which is located in County Durham.
The Great North Forest
The Great North Forest, established in 1990, is one of twelve Community Forests being created across England to regenerate the countryside around major towns and cities. The Great North Forest was established in 1990 and now covers approximately 250 square kilometres of urban fringe countryside across Tyne and Wear and north-east Durham.
