Other Woodland; Broadleaved BNG Units
Medium
Woodland and forest
Trusted by Developers and Landowners
What is
Other Woodland; Broadleaved
Other broadleaved woodland is the “catch-all” category for woods dominated by native or non-native broadleaved trees that do not qualify as priority habitats such as Lowland Mixed Deciduous, Upland Oakwood, or Wet Woodland. These stands may be planted, secondary, or mixed, often on farmland, estates, or urban fringes.
While ecologically less distinctive than priority types, they still support woodland birds, invertebrates, and fungi, and provide stepping-stones in fragmented landscapes.
Why It Matters for BNG
Broadleaved woodland offers reliable high distinctiveness units. Enhancing structure and species mix helps meet BNG requirements and strengthens landscape scale habitat networks.
Managing broadleaved woodland for regeneration, deadwood and understory diversity increases BNG value. It integrates well with long term woodland management plans.
Where Does It Occur?
This woodland type occurs widely across England, including:
• Secondary woodland developing on abandoned farmland
• Shelterbelts, farm woods, and estate plantings
• Broadleaved plantations on former conifer ground
• Urban edge woodlands, parks, and community woodlands
It is not tied to a single soil or region but reflects the land-use history of the site.
How New Broadleaved Woodland Is Created
Inputs
• Plant a mix of at least five native canopy species, suited to soil and climate, with a shrub layer of at least two species.
• Use locally appropriate species (e.g. oak, birch, sycamore, hazel, hawthorn) chosen through soil testing or the Forestry Commission’s Ecological Site Classification tool. ESC: forestry.gov.uk/esc
• Source trees from nurseries with strong biosecurity standards to reduce pest and disease risk.
Management
• Protect young trees from browsing and suppress competing vegetation until the canopy closes.
• Retain patches of open ground and encourage natural colonisation from nearby woodland where possible.
• Plan for species and age diversity to avoid uniform blocks.
Landscape
• Position new woodland to connect existing copses, hedgerows, or riparian strips.
• Shape edges with gradations into scrub and grassland, rather than abrupt boundaries.
• Maintain glades and rides within larger blocks to provide light-demanding flora and invertebrate habitat.
Target Condition
Other Woodland; Broadleaved in Good condition under the BNG metric will typically show:
• More than 80% native tree and shrub cover
• At least five native tree or shrub species present
• Evidence of natural regeneration at multiple stages (seedlings to pole stage)
• Multi-layered canopy or three vertical storeys
• 10–20% open space across the parcel
• Veteran trees (2+ per hectare) and deadwood present in at least half of plots
• Soils intact and not enriched or compacted
• Woodland ground flora with ancient woodland indicator species
The BNG Value of
Other Woodland; Broadleaved
• Distinctiveness: Medium (4)
• Condition potential: Can achieve Good with long-term management
• Connectivity: Provides ecological stepping-stones between habitats
• Climate services: Stores carbon, regulates water, and moderates temperature
• Time to target condition: 15 years for Moderate; 30+ years for Good
Species Typical of
Other Woodland; Broadleaved
🌳 Canopy trees
• Oak (Quercus robur, Q. petraea)
• Birch (Betula pendula, B. pubescens)
• Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
• Beech (Fagus sylvatica) in southern sites
• Poplar (Populus spp.) and willow (Salix spp.) in wetter sites
🌿 Shrub layer
• Hazel (Corylus avellana)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
• Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
• Elder (Sambucus nigra)
🌱 Ground flora
• Dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis)
• Wood avens (Geum urbanum)
• Bramble (Rubus fruticosus)
• Nettle (Urtica dioica)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Other Woodland; Broadleaved?
This BNG metric category covers broadleaved woodlands that do not strictly meet the criteria for Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland, such as those that are newly established, have a high proportion of non-native species, or are plantations.
How is BNG measured here?
The metric assesses habitat area and condition, but the distinctiveness score may be lower than a priority habitat, meaning a smaller biodiversity gain may be achieved for the same effort.
How can I achieve BNG?
Enhancement (e.g., gradual conversion to native species, removing non-natives, improving ground flora) or Creation of new broadleaved planting.
What is the BNG target condition?
The target condition depends on the ultimate vision, often aiming for a Moderate or Good condition by improving species mix and structural complexity.
Exploring Other Habitats?
Upland Hay Meadow
Upland hay meadows are species rich grasslands dominated by a mix of fine grasses and abundant herbaceous wildflowers such as sweet vernal-grass, wood crane’s-bill, great burnet, pignut, and lady’s mantles.
These meadows have developed through long term traditional management that combines light grazing with a late summer hay cut. Rare species including lesser butterfly-orchid and burnt orchid are sometimes found.
This habitat is a dense mix of grasses and a wide variety of wildflowers, with no single grass species dominating the vegetation.
Upland Calcareous Grassland
Upland calcareous grassland is a springy, species-rich habitat occurring above approximately 250–300 metres on lime-rich, or “base-rich,” soils. The habitat develops as a short, species rich sward of calcicolous grasses, herbs and orchids adapted to alkaline conditions and cooler upland climates
The grassland appears patchy and open, with fine grasses, colourful herbs and scattered rock outcrops. Wild thyme, common rock rose and bird’s foot trefoil often grow alongside sheep’s fescue and upright brome, creating a varied mosaic.
Upland Acid Grassland
Upland Acid Grassland is a mix of fine grasses, mosses and small herbaceous plants adapted to low pH and limited nutrients. This habitat appears as an open grassy landscape, often dominated by mat grass or purple moor grass. Texture and color come from all patches of tormentil, heath bedstraw and scattered mosses.
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