'Bluebells are one of the main biological indicators that scientists use to judge whether a spot is an ancient woodland. An ancient woodland is an area of woods that has been recorded on a map since the year 1600 CE. That’s approximately when maps started being more accurate, so we know that these areas have been filled with trees for approximately 400 years. They are relatively undisturbed by human development and, as a result, foster unique and complex communities of natural life.' (Hants local government website). I have a map including Bel's Wood dated 1895 (Ordnance Survey Map) and no woodland is showing. There are older maps online which also show that the land and it is always cleared of woodland. Wood would have been used at Starnthwaite Mill nearby and there is evidence of coppicing of hazel trees in some areas where there is still patches of trees. The presence of bluebells growing on the land indicates that there was a mature woodland here once. ...
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