Soil Condition in Haringey's Ancient Woodlands

All four woodlands are experiencing similar pressures of increasing foot traffic leading to loss or thinning of the litter layer in sensitive areas, i.e. steep slopes or areas of heaviest use or unsanctioned / desire paths.

Resulting in direct loss of soil carbon storage and most diverse and dense microbial habitat.

Indirectly results in soil compaction / surface smearing which reduces infiltration rates, increases surface water run off intensity which in turn drives further erosion and loss of litter layer.

Naturally shallow (relative to grasslands) topsoil layer within ancient woodland soils are vulnerable to erosion / compaction once exposed, highlighting the sensitivity of the soils within ancient woodlands.

Pockets of low disturbance were noted in all woodlands, which had the least degraded soil profiles with the thickest litter layers, least compaction and likely highest infiltration rates and capacity.

These soil profiles represent an upper level of quality (litter layer depth, microbial biodiversity and carbon content) that may be targets for areas of highest levels of degradation.

Results indicate the site soils support a highly diverse population of micro organisms, fungi and bacteria .

Management practices should aim to maintain intact areas and limiting most damaging practices.

Coppicing trials seem to be resulting in improved soil profiles, possibly indirectly due to the dense understory development due to increased light, limiting access.

Potential for improving awareness of importance of soil health to woodland health and the damage that can be caused by excess foot traffic, dogs digging holes and to encourage people to stick to the designated paths.