Take a moment to imagine that you are walking through a woodland. You might be picturing tall trees towering over a sea of delicate bluebells, painting the ground around you in a wash of purple. Perhaps you are imagining an autumnal scene, with crisp, fiery leaves whooshing around in the breeze, ready to be crunched underfoot. I think of a woodland at dusk, where dancing beams of golden sunlight weave through the rich green canopy above me. I’m sure you’d agree with me when I say that these are all picturesque, calming, and almost magical scenes.
In addition to being stunning landscapes, with benefits to mental and physical well-being,1 woodlands also provide many ecological benefits – from capturing carbon to preventing floods, and hosting vast biodiversity.2 Yet despite all of these benefits, woodlands only cover 13% of the UK’s land surface (compared to a more respectable 40% average land cover in Europe).3
This mere 13% isn’t even the end of the story, because not all woodlands are equal. Take a look at these two images – they seem like lovely, green woodlands, right? Surprisingly, these areas are pretty bleak ecologically. They were likely once native deciduous woodlands, which were deforested for timber and replanted with fast-growing species, like beech and non-native conifers. These monoculture landscapes don’t support the rich biodiversity that native woodlands do, and the dense canopy can quite literally cast a dark shadow on our native trees, preventing their regrowth.4
What can be done to change this? One method to increase native woodland cover is reforestation, where trees are planted in areas that were once forests or woodlands. You would think that this would be a straightforward process: tree seeds or saplings are planted in the ground and left alone for nature to do its thing. However, this isn’t the case. Even when environmental conditions appear ideal on the surface, reforestation can have mixed success, something which has been stumping some conservation efforts…
But perhaps the answer has been right in front of us all along, or right beneath us, I should say!
A recent study has suggested that reforestation success may be dependent on the microbes and mycorrhizal networks in the soil.
Mycorrhizal fungi are formed of thousands of microscopic thread-like structures, called hyphae, which create a huge network called a mycelium in the soil.5 So, although when you hear the word “fungi” you may think of a typical mushroom – this is just the fruiting body (reproductive organ)! Some edible mushrooms are in fact mycorrhizal fungi, like Chanterelle mushrooms, but others are not, like oyster mushrooms and standard supermarket close-cup mushrooms.
Over 90% of land plants are hosts to mycorrhizal fungi, with the mycelium intertwining with the plant’s roots. Don’t worry, though, they aren’t harming the plants, as you might suspect – in fact, they are helping one another! This is called a mutualistic symbiotic relationship, where both parties benefit from an interaction. In this case, the plant benefits from nutrients and increased water uptake, and in return, the mycorrhizal fungi receive carbohydrates from the plant’s photosynthesis. This relationship is so strong that neither can survive without the other; hence, when a forest is cut down, the fungi are lost too, and it becomes difficult for the plants to re-establish again without their fungi friends!
Solving the Mycorrhizal Mystery
Determined to answer these questions and learn more about the mysterious world of mycorrhizae, the researchers first investigated the distribution of three native tree species pine (Pinus sylvestris), birch (Betula spp.) and willow (Salix) using GPS data over large transects in Scotland. These transects crossed native ancient Caledonian pine and montane birch woodland, as well as potential sites for future restoration – including shrub heath and grasslands.
These three tree species were selected because pine and birch are some of the native trees being replanted, and willow is one of those special dual-mycorrhizal plants (remember these from earlier?!).
This data was used to provide insights into where native species grow best, and what makes these sites the perfect nurseries for tiny trees.
Growing our Knowledge
The study found that native woodland species, like pine and birch, are more likely to grow in groups near willow trees. In fact, an impressive 71% of these trees were within only 2 meters of a willow tree, and almost none were found growing in isolation! This is down to that special dual-mycorrhizal superpower of the willow.
As the willow trees are able to form relationships with more than one type of mycorrhizal fungus, they can facilitate the growth of several different species, increasing the fungal diversity of the soil. So, by the time seeds of other native tree species, which require specific mycorrhizae to survive, come along, they can successfully grow and flourish!
From just one very special tree an entire woodland can grow – isn’t that incredible!
Where do we “grow” from here?
This seed of knowledge allows us to branch out our reforestation strategy. It’s suggested that our reforestation efforts should be focused on areas where the correct soil mycorrhizal networks are present – a nature-based solution for enhancing tree survival. If they aren’t present, these special dual-mycorrhizal species should be initially planted, allowing a shift to woodland-facilitating soils. These simple steps are hoped to greatly improve the UK’s reforestation success.
How to find another way
Plant a tree!
While you may not be in a position to plant an entire woodland in your garden, you may have the space for a small tree. Be sure to choose a native species, like oak, birch, cherry or hazel. This webpage provides a long list of the many UK native trees: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees
You could buy a young tree sapling or even try collecting a seed and growing it from scratch (autumn is the perfect time to do this with acorns and conkers scattered around!)
Write to your minister.
The Woodland Trust is currently campaigning to restore non-native tree plantations back to native deciduous woodlands. While the trees on the surface may be a non-native monoculture, the soils contain those all important microbes and native seeds, and are just waiting for the perfect conditions to be restored after the plantation is felled. They are urging us to contact our local ministers, using their online form (linked below) to rescue these landscapes before it’s too late. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/forgotten-forests/
Respect your local woodlands
Woodlands are incredible places and provide so many wellbeing benefits, so please do get outside and enjoy them, but make sure you are respectful of these landscapes:
- Stick to the paths (this includes furry friends and bike tyres too!) to protect ground-nesting birds, young saplings and fragile flowers like bluebells.
- Leave no trace behind. Make sure you take home or dispose of any litter and clean up after your dogs.
- Stay fire free. Avoid lighting fires and BBQs, as these have potential to spark wildfires, which are detrimental to woodlands and the creatures that inhabit them.
Article written by Sophie Nash
Primary paper:
Martius, L.R. et al. (2024) ‘Nucleation in temperate woodland regeneration: Dual mycorrhizal salix facilitate ectomycorrhizal tree establishment’, Oikos, 2025(4). doi:10.1111/oik.10974. Available at: https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/oik.10974?af=R
Other references:
- Downey, H., et al. (2025) State of the UK’s Woods and Trees 2025, Woodland Trust. Available at: https://woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/53966/state-of-the-uk-s-woods-and-trees-2025.pdf
Forestry Commission (2024) The benefits of Woodland Creation: Woods for nature, GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-benefits-of-woodland-creation-woods-for-nature/the-benefits-of-woodland-creation-woods-for-nature
Top 5 facts about UK woodlands (no date) WWF. Available at: https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/uk-woodlands (Accessed: 05 October 2025).
Rescue our forgotten forests (no date) icon/search. Available at: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/forgotten-forests (Accessed: 05 October 2025).
GeeksforGeeks (2025) An overview of mycorrhizae – types, examples, and importance – %%sitename%%, GeeksforGeeks. Available at: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/biology/mycorrhizae-examples-types (Accessed: 05 October 2025).
