Radley Large Wood, a historic and ecologically significant ancient woodland near Oxford, is under threat. Once part of the lands owned by the Abbey of Abingdon, these woods are now owned by St. Hilda’s College, Oxford. However, the college’s recent actions have resulted in the destruction of approximately 20% of this precious ecosystem. These actions have raised serious concerns among local residents and environmentalists, as the damage done is irreversible and undermines the woodland’s ecological and historical value.
Ancient woodlands like Radley Large Wood are ecosystems that have developed over centuries, providing habitats for meany species of plants, animals, and fungi. The oak trees in the woodland are alive with biodiversity, supporting everything from ivy, which creates hibernacula for insects, to woodpecker holes that serve as nesting sites for bats and birds. When an ancient tree is felled, a network of dependent species are destroyed.
The woods have a diversity of different ages and heights, making them resilient and self-sustaining ecosystems. Unlike managed forests or plantations, ancient woodlands are irreplaceable. Once destroyed, they cannot be recreated, no matter how many trees are replanted. This loss is an act of environmental vandalism, stripping away a natural heritage that has thrived for centuries.
The misguided justifications of St. Hilda’s College, who claim that the felling is necessary due to ash dieback disease and for regeneration purposes. However, local observers have found little evidence of widespread ash dieback in the woods. Instead of targeted interventions, large swathes of the forest have been cleared, exposing fragile soils to erosion, flooding streams with mud, and destroying areas of bluebells, wood anemones, and native flora.
Moreover, regeneration felling, as described by the college, should involve careful canopy management to encourage natural regrowth. Yet what has occurred is far more drastic, resembling clear-cutting rather than thoughtful woodland management. Heavy machinery has churned wet soils, crushed habitats, and failed to respect safe zones around badger setts and other sensitive areas.
Biodiversity at risk, the destruction might’ve impacted bats, particularly woodland specialists like the barbastelle bat, which is already under-recorded and poorly understood. These bats rely on hollow trees, woodpecker holes, and other features of ancient woodland for roosting. Surveys and ground-level inspections that could have been conducted to identify potential bat habitats appear to have been inadequate or absent. Without proper ecological assessments, the full extent of the damage to wildlife remains unknown.
What’s really driving this, some critics suggest that the motivations behind the felling may not be as noble as claimed. With rising demand for biofuel and wood fuel, it seems likely that much of the felled timber is being sold for profit. Additionally, the college may be eyeing carbon credits from replanting schemes, which, while superficially appealing, cannot compensate for the loss of centuries-old ecosystems and the embodied carbon they represent.
Radley Large Wood is not just a patch of trees—it is a living area of natural and human history, from its days under the Abbey to its use as a holiday camp after the war. The community is now rallying to protect this irreplaceable woodland. St. Hilda’s College needs to be accountable for its promises to manage the wood according to ancient woodland guidelines.
What you can do: Join the friends of Radley Large Wood Facebook group to connect with people advocating for the woods. Write to St. Hilda’s College to demand transparency and adherence to proper ecological management practices. Support local campaigns to preserve ancient woodlands and bring awareness about the destruction caused by misguided forestry operations.
You can get involved and join the group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/603807741990811
