Puzzlewood is an ancient woodland site and tourist attraction, near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. The site, covering 14 acres (5.7 ha), shows evidence of open-cast iron ore mining dating from the Roman period, and possibly earlier.
Part of Puzzlewood showing a typical scene of tree roots, rocks and moss
Image: Puzzlewood (Andy Dingley)
In the United Kingdom, ancient woodland is that which has existed continuously since 1600 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Planting of woodland was uncommon before those dates, so a wood present in 1600 is likely to have developed naturally.
Ancient woodland on Inchmahome island in Scotland
Blossom of lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)
Close-up of the yellow archangel flowers
Anemonoides nemorosa, the wood anemone