Wood-pasture and Parkland BNG Units
Very high
Woodland and forest
Trusted by Developers and Landowners
What is Wood-pasture and Parkland?
Wood-pasture and Parkland are mosaic habitats of open grassland, heath or rough pasture with scattered open-grown trees. These trees are often ancient, veteran or historically pollarded and shaped by long-term grazing.
Unlike closed woodland, this habitat maintains a semi-open structure. Grazing animals prevent canopy closure, creating a landscape of individual trees, scrub clumps and open sward. Veteran trees with decay features such as hollows, rot holes, deadwood, and cavities are central to its ecological value. Animal dung, nectar-rich grassland and structural continuity support specialist fungi, lichens, invertebrates, birds and bats.
Many sites have historic origins in medieval forests, deer parks, and commons.
Why It Matters for BNG
Wood-pasture and Parkland generate high distinctiveness biodiversity units where ancient veteran trees are present, the habitat carries irreplaceable status under planning policy. Off-site BNG delivery through condition improvement on existing sites offers strong and well-evidenced unit yield.
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Where You'll Find It
Wood-pasture and Parkland is found across lowland and upland Britain, most commonly associated with historic deer parks, ancient commons, Royal Forests, estate parklands and grazed wood-edges that have never been converted to arable or intensive grassland.
Smaller but ecologically important fragments survive on farms, estate grounds, old commons and upland edge sites where traditional pastoral management has been maintained or only recently interrupted.
Soil & Site Requirements
Wood-pasture and parkland develops across a wide range of soil types, from heavy clays and silty loams in lowland parklands to thin acidic soils on upland commons. Soil pH varies depending on the underlying geology, but unimproved or semi-improved conditions are essential — no cultivation, reseeding or fertiliser application within the drip lines of veteran trees. The habitat's defining soil feature is long-term continuity of low-intensity grazing without nutrient enrichment, which sustains the unimproved grassland and heath communities of the open sward.
How New Wood-pasture and Parkland Is Created
Inputs
Select open sites with existing mature or veteran trees
Plant scattered open-grown trees of locally native species and appropriate form
Use the same species and growth forms as any existing veteran trees on site
Avoid planting in dense blocks; prioritise open-grown, free-standing trees
Source planting stock from locally native provenances
Management
Introduce light year-round grazing with cattle or sheep
Fence and protect newly planted trees against browsing and bark damage
Monitor sward structure and adjust stocking to maintain 10–20% open space
Avoid cultivation, drainage improvement or fertiliser application
Landscape
Position creation adjacent to existing wood-pasture, ancient woodland or veteran tree features
Plan for a 30-year management horizon with legal agreements
Ensure long-term management commitments are in place
How Existing Wood-pasture and Parkland Is Improved
Inputs
Score current condition using the 13-criterion woodland condition sheet
Identify which indicators are failing, open space, veteran trees and deadwood
Map veteran trees individually and record their condition, features and any immediate threats
Introduce appropriate native shrubs and understorey species
Management
Retain all standing and fallen deadwood
Fence off individual veteran trees from livestock
Manage native scrub in varied heights across the site
Apply a stocking calendar with lighter grazing in spring and summe
Spot-treat invasive bracken, nettles and non-native species using targeted herbicide or weed-wipe application
Do not apply broad fertilisers, pesticides or manures
Plan for veteran tree succession
Landscape
Restore adjacent fields or improved grassland to extend the open mosaic and buffer veteran trees from agricultural pressures
Design boundaries as graded transitions into scrub, hedgerow or unimproved grassland
Protect historic landscape features including park boundaries, ridge and furrow, earthworks and veteran tree lines within 0.5 m uncultivated buffers
Target Condition
Wood-pasture and parkland in Good condition should:
• Contain multiple tree age classes including veterans
• Maintain 10–20% open grazed space
• Support ≥2 veteran trees per hectare
• Retain standing and fallen deadwood
• Show active regeneration of native trees
• Have low invasive species cover
• Maintain balanced grazing pressure
The BNG Value of Wood-pasture and Parkland
• Distinctiveness: Very High
• Condition Potential: Moderate uplift possible through grazing balance and regeneration
• Restoration Pathway: Enhancement of existing mosaics; true recreation is long-term
• Strategic Value: One of the most valuable woodland mosaics for saproxylic species and veteran tree networks
The BNG Value of Wood-pasture and Parkland
Canopy or Primary Layer
• Oak
• Beech
• Ash
• Sweet chestnut (in historic parkland contexts)
Shrub or Secondary Layer
• Hawthorn
• Blackthorn
• Hazel
• Holly
Ground Flora or Understorey
• Rough grassland species
• Meadow grasses
• Heath species (on acidic sites)
• Nectar-rich herbs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wood-pasture and Parkland?
Wood-pasture and Parkland Habitat is a high distinctiveness priority habitat combining open-grown veteran trees with a grazed understorey of grassland, heath or scrub. It is defined by the co-existence of trees at all stages of life.
How is BNG measured here?
Condition is assessed using 13 scored indicators across age structure, native species diversity, regeneration, open space, veteran trees, deadwood, ground flora, vertical structure, herbivore damage, invasive species and disturbance.
How can I achieve BNG?
The most effective route is improving condition on existing sites by addressing the weakest indicators. Through enhancement of grazing balance, veteran protection and regeneration planning.
What is the BNG target condition?
Good condition with ≥2 veterans per hectare, balanced openness and strong structural diversity.
What management is required?
Long-term management focuses on maintaining the open mosaic through balanced grazing, protecting veteran trees from root compaction and bark damage, retaining all deadwood features, managing native scrub for structural diversity, and preventing nutrient enrichment or soil disturbance.
Exploring Other Habitats?
Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland
Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland is a priority broadleaved woodland habitat dominated by beech, and in some cases yew, on suitable lowland soils. These woodlands occur mainly on chalk and limestone scarps, as well as neutral and acidic lowland soils where beech has become long established. Many stands are ancient woodland, while others are long-standing secondary woods that now support characteristic beech woodland communities.
The habitat typically supports a closed beech canopy, sometimes with yew forming a secondary layer or pure stands on steep slopes. Ash, whitebeam, oak and holly may also occur depending on soil type and local conditions. Structure and ground flora vary according to geology and management history, reflecting recognised woodland NVC communities.
Wood-pasture and Parkland
Wood-pasture and Parkland are mosaic habitats of open grassland, heath or rough pasture with scattered open-grown trees. These trees are often ancient, veteran or historically pollarded and shaped by long-term grazing.
Unlike closed woodland, this habitat maintains a semi-open structure. Grazing animals prevent canopy closure, creating a landscape of individual trees, scrub clumps and open sward. Veteran trees with decay features such as hollows, rot holes, deadwood, and cavities are central to its ecological value. Animal dung, nectar-rich grassland and structural continuity support specialist fungi, lichens, invertebrates, birds and bats.
Many sites have historic origins in medieval forests, deer parks, and commons.
Upland Oakwood
An Upland Oakwood BNG habitat is an ancient, structurally rich woodland habitat found across the steep valley sides, hillslopes and rocky terrain of upland Britain. It is dominated by sessile oak, often growing alongside downy birch, rowan and hazel, and is characterised by a dense, mossy ground flora shaped by the cool, wet and acidic conditions of the upland zone.
These Woodlands have developed over centuries of low-intensity management and natural regeneration on thin, free-draining or rocky soils. Many are classified as ancient semi-natural woodland, supporting specialist bryophyte and lichen communities of international significance alongside a diverse invertebrate fauna, woodland birds and, in some stands, rare vascular plants.
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