Ancient Forest Dartmoor
The forest of dartmoor is an ancient royal forest covering part of dartmoor devon england. Until 1204 the whole of devon was a royal forest but in that year king john agreed subject to the.
Dreamy ancient forest wistman s wood is a very special and unusual forest which looks like it should belong to a different time.
Ancient forest dartmoor. Fingle wood a 334 hectare 825 acre area of ancient woodland on the edge of dartmoor in devon has been planted with non native conifers. By a forest most people mean a large area of growing trees. Hundreds of years old twisted moss covered dwarf oak trees.
Comprar esta foto de stock y explorar imágenes similares en adobe stock. Photographic and other records show that wistman s wood has changed considerably since the mid 19th century. Dartmoor is a region of the united kingdom that is steeped in ancient folklore.
The word forest naturally conjures up images of dense woodland covering huge tracts of land but in the case of the forest of dartmoor it refers to a one time ancient royal hunting ground. The broadleaf woodlands of the national park are mainly oak woodlands concentrated on the steep valley sides of the main dartmoor rivers. Hinde 1985 pp 7 8 explains how.
Aug 7 2013 the high land of the dart has always been valued for its special qualities today it might be for its exposed featureless expanse of rough moorland treacherous mires and scoured granite tors but seven thousand years ago it was revered as a thickly forested otherworld. It is likely to be a left over from the ancient forest that covered much of dartmoor c. This has created 212 hectares 525 acres of dense shady woodland which has meant smaller trees such as the oak have struggled to get enough sunlight.
Ancient forest wistman s wood near two bridges in dartmoor devon. Gerrard 1997 p 25 suggests that the pollen record for dartmoor shows that at the beginning of the mesolithic period c 10 000 4500bc it was largely open heathland with small pockets of willow and birch located in sheltered sites. 7000 bc before mesolithic hunter gatherers cleared it around 5000 bc.
A royal forest was an area reserved by the king for hunting and william the conqueror introduced the concept of forest law in england in the 11th century. Most have remained wooded since at least the 1600s and are. The first point to consider in modern terms is the age of wistman s wood.
Experts believe wistman s woods are what is left of a vast ancient forest dating back 7 000 years when mesolithic hunter gatherers would have hunted wild game here. The dwarf contorted trees mostly oaks with lichens growing on their branches reminiscent of witches hair make it look like it s just come out of a story book. At the same time climatic conditions have also generally become warmer.
These wooded remnants cling on in three diminuti. Magical mysterious woodland with an eerie feel. Many of its places are known to be haunted by vengeful ghosts playful pixies and the devil himself.
