BACKGROUND

The Atlantic Oakwoods are the ancient woodlands, often dominated by oak species, that fringe the west coast of Britain and Ireland. As distinctive ecosystems, they have shown great resilience surviving from the original post-glacial migrations, through millennia of use and abuse, to the present day. Having lost their economic viability through the decline in traditional markets at the end of the 19th Century, management of these woodlands was largely abandoned. They became sheltered grazing for wintering stock or were converted to coniferous plantations.

In recent years there has been increasing interest in these woods as their conservation value was realised. National and voluntary organisations, together with local communities have co-operated to draw up long term management plans. Attempts have been made to initiate natural regeneration and restore damaged woods by the removal of excessive browsing or introduced tree species. While the rich and diverse moss and lichen flora has been long known, there have been recent investigations of the origin and genetic structure of the tree populations and studies of the historical development of the woods. There is a need therefore to register the existing state of the woods and their overall biodiversity in the contexts of their past treatment and future management.

The Botanical Society of Scotland are organising this symposium with the aim of providing a forum in which current knowledge can be collated, with a view to identifying the need for further research and the role of these woods in conservation planning.

Support and funding for the Atlantic Oakwoods Symposium has also been provided by:

• British Ecological Society
• Forestry Commission
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Scottish Forestry Trust
• Forest Research