大象传媒

The Normans introduced fallow deer to Britain from France because they were addicted to hunting. As a result, the stag's roar still echoes around the woodlands as he gathers up his girls every autumn. To protect these deer, the Normans set aside great swathes of land, much of it forest. With 80% of the country's trees already cut down, these woodlands were a vital refuge. From Sherwood to the New Forest, many have remained protected to this day and now contain some of our oldest trees. In Windsor Great Park, for instance, there are massive great oaks that are more than 1,000 years old, making them the oldest living things in Europe. But these woods were not wild, they were carefully managed by humans to provide a ready supply of timber for fencing, firewood and charcoal. Nevertheless, it ensured the survival of our richest woodland.