Charlotte’s Wood

Somerset, UK​

PROJECT #1

Location: Somerset, UK

Site Area: 3.8 hectares

Habitat Type: Broadleaved wet woodland

Key Species: Black poplar, willows, alder

Number of Trees: 23,959

Project Focus: Biodiversity

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Why is this habitat under threat?

The UK has lost much of its wet woodland due to clearance, drainage, poor management, and pollution from agricultural runoff.

Wet woodland is a transient habitat, high in biodiversity and home to a range of highly adapted insect species that use the wet wood.

It is a wild and beautiful habitat, rich in mosses and lichens, which helps with local flood management and sequesters large amounts of carbon.

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Which species will benefit from the habitat restoration?

The trees associated with wet woodland are black poplar, alder, birch, and willows. Flower species found in wet woodland include marsh marigold, yellow flag iris, wild redcurrant, meadowsweet, and water dropwort.

There are a range of crane flies, hoverflies, and beetles that are only found in wet woodland, and it is a haven for amphibians, otters, and bird species such as willow tits.

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Site history

The site is being transformed from low grade grazing pasture that was not commonly used to a mixed poplar, willow, and alder plantation.

Historically it was used as a willow plantation so our work involves restoring it to a woodland that will help with flood management in the area and provide rare habitat, high in biodiversity.

Habitat restoration details

Two woodland blocks are being planted using the Miyawaki Method, where the trees are planted at high density to accelerate growth and protect from herbivore browsing. We are planting 15 tree species, with a focus on wetland specialists such as black poplar, willows, and alder, and on species that provide nectar and berries, such as bird cherry and elder.

The woodland blocks will be surrounded by a water meadow planted with species such as ragged robin, purple loosestrife, and meadowsweet. There will be a pond in the centre to attract aquatic invertebrates and amphibians.

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Outreach projects​

We will engage partners who have invested in the site to come and visit and explore the biodiversity that has been created by offering tree planting and surveying activities.

The site is publicly accessible and we will hold regular community outreach days to offer education on our native biodiversity and habitat restoration.

For all general enquiries, please contact us at

Phone: 01258 818003 Email: hello@tomorrowsforest.com