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The new website for the Back on the Map ancient woodland project will be launched at the end of January 2007. An interactive map will enable you to search for a local old wood or discover the history and ecology of some of Northern Ireland's favourite old woods. You will also be able to learn more about ancient woodland and the findings of this 4 year project.

The final countdown!

The final year of the Ancient Woodland Inventory Project has begun and there is lots going on!

Our last season of surveying begins in April, continuing until June and we are busy getting ready for that. We will be surveying Counties Fermanagh and L’derry as well as Banbridge, Cookstown & Craigavon districts. During this survey, qualified ecologists will walk through each wood noting down the species of plants and any historical features which could indicate that the wood is ancient.

The historical research is also focusing on County Fermanagh this year and if you have any old maps (earlier than the 1830s) or know of some stories relating to your local old wood, we would be delighted to hear from you!

We have a busy year ahead of us, with five events about ancient woodland, following on from those in Counties Armagh and L’derry last autumn. We are still finalising the details so look out for more information in the near future!

You will also find us at the Balmoral Show, Belfast and Wildlife 2006, at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre

March 2006

News archive

• Celebration of Northern Ireland's Ancient Woodland at Shane's Castle Estate, County Antrim, Sunday 3rd September.

• Event: celebration of Northern Ireland's Ancient Woodland at Florence Court Estate, County Fermanagh, Sunday 30th July.

• Event: Northern Ireland's Ancient Woodland at the Abbey & Rosemount, Greyabbey, County Down, Sunday 11 June 2006.

• Woodland celebrations at Prehen Wood & the Argory

• Prehen Wood/The Argory events - (October 2005)

• Extra funding means small woods are ignored no more! (June 2005)

• Old maps help find old woods (Jan 2005 - details

• At least 6% of woodland area surveyed has been lost since the 1970s (Oct 2004) - details

• Surveying has now begun on the potentially ancient woods of Northern Ireland. (June 2004) - details

• Preliminary work indicates that there are almost 3400 woods over 0.5 hectares in area which are either ancient or long-established. (June 2003) - details

Woodland destroyed, Bangor, Co. Down