4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313136343432 English Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-04-08T11:10:06.487Z NRW 1.0 wel British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Ancient Woodland Inventory Ancient Woodland Inventory Rhestr Coetiroedd Hynafol Ancient_woodland_inventory 2011.LYR Ancient Woodland Inventory 2021.lyr AWI 2011 2026-04-01 NRW_DS116442 This dataset comprises of the boundaries of Ancient Woodland sites in Wales. Each site is categorised as either Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), Restored Ancient Woodland Site (RAWS), Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) or Ancient Woodland Site of Unknown Category (AWSU). Initially all woods greater than 2 ha shown on the Ordnance Survey (OS) 1:25 000 1st Series maps surveyed between 1880 and 1960 were considered. Evidence as to which of these were ancient was provided by presence on the earlier 19th century OS 1st Edition Maps (surveyed 1805 - 1873; scale 1:63 360). The general presumption was that woodland on 1800s maps was ancient, unless there was other evidence that the wood originated between 1600AD and 1800. Supportive indications of ancient status included the wood's name, its situation in the landscape, and the nature of both the surrounding pattern of enclosure and the pattern of boundaries within the wood. Where available, field survey data such as the presence of indicator species, or other historical maps and documents were also used. In mountainous areas such as Wales the first edition Ordnance Survey 1 inch maps were hard to interpret because the heavy hatching used to indicate steep slopes tended to obscure tree symbols. The 2021 update to the ancient woodland inventory includes changes to the 2011 version resulting from the provision of additional evidence presented to NRW through public enquiries. This includes private estate maps, tithe maps, management records and photographs. The evidence has been considered by a panel of NRW experts and the inventory amended if the evidence indicates that a site has had another land use for a significant period, i.e. woodland is absent from the site in two consecutive epochs of OS historic maps, or there has been significant ground disturbance to the site, e.g. quarrying, mining or development. Amendments include removal of sites from the inventory, adjustments to boundaries or changes to the ancient woodland category of sites. The 2011 version remained static until it was replaced by the 2021 version. The 2021 version is being updated at least annually as new evidence becomes available. An older 2004 version of the dataset also exists - please see metadata for dataset number NRW_DS125363 - Ancient Woodland Inventory for Wales 2004 (AWI2004) https://metadata.naturalresources.wales/geonetwork/srv/api/records/NRW_DS125363?language=eng This dataset comprises of the boundaries of Ancient Woodland sites in Wales. Each site is categorised as either Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), Restored Ancient Woodland Site (RAWS), Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) or Ancient Woodland Site of Unknown Category (AWSU). Initially all woods greater than 2 ha shown on the Ordnance Survey (OS) 1:25 000 1st Series maps surveyed between 1880 and 1960 were considered. Evidence as to which of these were ancient was provided by presence on the earlier 19th century OS 1st Edition Maps (surveyed 1805 - 1873; scale 1:63 360). The general presumption was that woodland on 1800s maps was ancient, unless there was other evidence that the wood originated between 1600AD and 1800. Supportive indications of ancient status included the wood's name, its situation in the landscape, and the nature of both the surrounding pattern of enclosure and the pattern of boundaries within the wood. Where available, field survey data such as the presence of indicator species, or other historical maps and documents were also used. In mountainous areas such as Wales the first edition Ordnance Survey 1 inch maps were hard to interpret because the heavy hatching used to indicate steep slopes tended to obscure tree symbols. The 2021 update to the ancient woodland inventory includes changes to the 2011 version resulting from the provision of additional evidence presented to NRW through public enquiries. This includes private estate maps, tithe maps, management records and photographs. The evidence has been considered by a panel of NRW experts and the inventory amended if the evidence indicates that a site has had another land use for a significant period, i.e. woodland is absent from the site in two consecutive epochs of OS historic maps, or there has been significant ground disturbance to the site, e.g. quarrying, mining or development. Amendments include removal of sites from the inventory, adjustments to boundaries or changes to the ancient woodland category of sites. The 2011 version remained static until it was replaced by the 2021 version. The 2021 version is being updated at least annually as new evidence becomes available. An older 2004 version of the dataset also exists - please see metadata for dataset number NRW_DS125363 - Ancient Woodland Inventory for Wales 2004 (AWI2004) https://metadata.naturalresources.wales/geonetwork/srv/api/records/NRW_DS125363?language=eng Mae'r set ddata hon yn crynhoi ffiniau safleoedd Coetir Hynafol yng Nghymru. Mae pob safle yn cael ei chategoreiddio fel naill ai Coetir Hynafol Lled-Naturiol (ASNW), Safle Coetir Hynafol wedi’i Adfer (RAWS), Planhigfa ar Safle Coetir Hynafol (PAWS) neu Safle Coetir Hynafol Anhysbys (AWSU). Yn gyntaf ystyriwyd pob coetir sy'n fwy na 2 ha a ddangosir ar fapiau Cyfres 1af yr Arolwg Ordnans (OS) 1:25 000 a archwiliwyd rhwng 1880 a 1960. Darparwyd tystiolaeth o ba rai o'r rhain oedd yn hynafol gan eu presenoldeb ar y mapiau cynharaf o’r 19eg ganrif, Mapiau OS Argraffiad 1af (archwiliwyd 1805-1873; graddfa 1:63 360). Y rhagdybiaeth gyffredinol oedd bod coetiroedd ar fapiau o’r 1800au yn hynafol, oni bai bod tystiolaeth arall fod y coed yn tarddu o rhwng 1600 OC a 1800. Roedd arwyddion ychwanegol o statws hynafol yn cynnwys enw'r coetir, ei leoliad yn y dirwedd, a natur y patrwm o amgáu o’i gwmpas a phatrwm ffiniau’r coetir . Lle’r oeddent ar gael, defnyddiwyd data arolwg maes, megis presenoldeb rhywogaethau dangosol, neu fapiau a dogfennau hanesyddol eraill hefyd. Mewn ardaloedd mynyddig fel Cymru roedd mapiau 1 fodfedd argraffiad cyntaf yr Arolwg Ordnans yn anodd eu dehongli gan fod y llinellau trymion a ddefnyddiwyd i nodi llethrau serth yn tueddu i guddio symbolau coed. Cydnabyddiaeth Yn cynnwys gwybodaeth Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru © Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a Hawl Cronfa Ddata. Cedwir pob hawl. Yn cynnwys data Arolwg Ordnans. Rhif Trwydded Arolwg Ordnans AC0000849444. Hawlfraint y Goron a Hawl Cronfa Ddata. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Forestry Commission Wales Forestry Commission Wales, 6 Victoria Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DQ enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://www.forestry.gov.uk/wales Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Land use GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme woodland (woodlands) small woodland deciduous woodland ancient woodland (ancient trees) (veteran trees) semi-natural woodland native woodland woodland ecology FORESTRY/WOODLANDS private woodlands broadleaves (broadleaved woodland) NRW Thesaurus 2026-03-04 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR) Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) Supporting Services (SMNR) Ecosystem (SMNR) Management Areas (SMNR) Ecosystem Services (SMNR) Energy (SMNR) Woodlands (SMNR) Provisioning Services (SMNR) Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR) NRW SMNR Keywords 2024-06-26 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW. Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. Open Government Licence 2500 English biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 Wales (WLS) -5.777741 -2.608865 51.240829 53.513067 2011-01-01 The maps combined with new methodology have provided a more accurate inventory which has resulted in an additional 33,000 hectares being identified as Ancient Woodland of which 5,000 is on the WGWE. Categories of Ancient Woodland identified on the AWI map: Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) – broadleaf woodlands comprising of mainly native tree and shrub species which have been in existence for over 400 years. Amendments to the Ancient Woodland Inventory for England 4 February 1997 - 13 February 1998 Amendments to the Ancient woodland inventory for England 29 February 1996 - 4 February 1997 Amendment to the Ancient woodland inventory for England July 1994 - February 1996 The ancient woodland inventory database and digital boundary project: an update of recent developments Ancient Woodland inventory (provisional) England : amendments to county reports up to June 1994 Ancient woodland inventory : database documentation Identifying ancient woodland in Wales - the role of the Ancient Woodland Inventory, historical maps and indicator species Geographic Information System ESRI Feature Class https://datamap.gov.wales/capabilities/layer/1105/?ows_service=wms OGC:WMS Web Mapping Service https://datamap.gov.wales/layers/inspire-nrw:NRW_ANCIENT_WOODLAND_INVENTORY_2021 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Download Data and Web Services Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false The areas of ancient woodland with non-native trees planted on them, termed Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), and those areas of ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) were identified and delimited by using the latest Ordnance Survey maps and field survey records. The area of each was measured using a dot grid overlay on flat projections of the 1:25 000 1st series map. The results were presented as a series of reports and maps by administrative regions (counties). As new information has been received from surveys and ad hoc informants, the initial county inventories have been revised by adding or deleting sites, or by changing the classification of the growing stock. The Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) identifies woodlands that have had a continuous woodland cover for centuries. Studies show that these woodlands are typically of higher nature conservation value than those that have developed recently. In the 1980s the former Nature Conservancy Council instigated the AWI, which attempted to list all ancient woodlands in Britain. A baseline date of 1600 AD was adopted because reasonable maps were available from this time (in England, at least). 1600 AD however, was an arbitrary date, and there was no clear ecological cut-off. The AWI was always considered to be provisional and subject to refinement, and never a definitive listing of the ancient, or the 'best' woods. Between 2010 and 2011 Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) and Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) commissioned a revision of the AWI in Wales comparing the existing AWI and National Forest Inventory with the Epoch 1: 1st County Series Ordnance Survey maps in terms of identification of ancient woodland. Epoch 1 County Series maps provide a more reliable and comprehensive baseline than the AWI. Moreover, the Epoch 1 maps incorporate numerous practical advantages over the AWI in terms of their ease of use, accuracy and level of detail. The areas of ancient woodland with non-native trees planted on them, termed Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), and those areas of ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) were identified and delimited by using the latest Ordnance Survey maps and field survey records. The area of each was measured using a dot grid overlay on flat projections of the 1:25 000 1st series map. The results were presented as a series of reports and maps by administrative regions (counties). As new information has been received from surveys and ad hoc informants, the initial county inventories have been revised by adding or deleting sites, or by changing the classification of the growing stock. The Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) identifies woodlands that have had a continuous woodland cover for centuries. Studies show that these woodlands are typically of higher nature conservation value than those that have developed recently. In the 1980s the former Nature Conservancy Council instigated the AWI, which attempted to list all ancient woodlands in Britain. A baseline date of 1600 AD was adopted because reasonable maps were available from this time (in England, at least). 1600 AD however, was an arbitrary date, and there was no clear ecological cut-off. The AWI was always considered to be provisional and subject to refinement, and never a definitive listing of the ancient, or the 'best' woods. Between 2010 and 2011 Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) and Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) commissioned a revision of the AWI in Wales comparing the existing AWI and National Forest Inventory with the Epoch 1: 1st County Series Ordnance Survey maps in terms of identification of ancient woodland. Epoch 1 County Series maps provide a more reliable and comprehensive baseline than the AWI. Moreover, the Epoch 1 maps incorporate numerous practical advantages over the AWI in terms of their ease of use, accuracy and level of detail.