October 2013 |
Rare Book Helps Restore Forest
The project managers for the Wychwood Project have found the book's guidance on the former boundaries of the Wychwood Forest to be particularly helpful as they seek key areas to reforest. The book contains a wealth of information on the extent of the Forest in the 19th century as it was in the process of being cleared for farming. The book also investigates a further 1,000 years of Wychwood history, tracing its development back to the Domesday period.
Using the book as a guide post, the Wychwood Project recently planted 20,000 new trees in an area near Witney called Foxburrow Wood. The area was part of the former Wychwood Forest and was depicted in one of the book's maps.
As the Wychwood Project continues, the rare book will continue to play an instrumental role in reforestation planning.