Guidance

Historic woodland 1891-1914 (AI predicted) dataset for England

Published 27 August 2026

Applies to England

Find out about areas in England that may be suitable for new woodland, based on historic woodland information.

About the historic woodland (AI predicted) dataset

A national dataset for England showing land where woodland was mapped between approximately 1891 and 1914. The dataset has been generated using an artificial intelligence (AI) model applied to historic 2nd edition Ordnance Survey (OS) maps. It indicates the extent and type of historic woodland.

The dataset can support the development of forestry projects, analysis, interpretation and decision-making. It can help inform strategy, planning and research.

The AI predictions were post-processed to create a consistent, usable national dataset for England published under an Open Government Licence.

Summary of the dataset

The dataset uses an AI model that identifies woodland symbols from digitised historic OS maps. It shows probable historic woodland extent and composition.

You can use outputs to support research, planning and environmental analysis. In particular where understanding long-term woodland presence and change over time is important.

The Welsh Government Data Science Unit and the Forestry Commission developed this dataset. The National Library of Scotland provided access to the historic mapping used.

How to use the data

Areas of historic woodland may retain characteristics that make them suitable for woodland creation. You can use the dataset to help inform decisions in your forestry proposal about future land management with other evidence.

The presence of woodland on historic maps does not mean that they have survived to the present day. Woodland may have been removed, altered or replaced by other land uses over time. This is shown in the Lost Historic Woodlands 1891-1914 (AI predicted) dataset for England.

You can combine the dataset with other environmental, ecological or land use datasets to provide further context. For example, when assessing habitat networks, landscape change or environmental opportunity areas.

You should interpret the outputs from this dataset alongside other available evidence. This may include modern datasets, local records and specialist knowledge. It may be also be necessary to apply quality assurance, filtering or validation processes. You should not rely on the outputs in isolation.

The dataset is not suitable for precise measurement of woodland extent or for use in statutory or regulatory decisions without supporting evidence or acknowledging these limitations.

What the dataset contains

The dataset consists of polygons representing areas where woodland was mapped on historic OS maps. Each polygon includes confidence scores that indicate how strongly the model predicts the presence of different woodland types within that area.

In some cases, more than one woodland type may be associated with a single polygon. This reflects uncertainty or mixed woodland characteristics in the underlying historic map.

Woodland types included in the dataset are:

• broadleaf
• brushwood
• bushes
• conifer
• mixed woodland
• orchard
• osiers

How the dataset was created

Historic OS map tiles were processed and analysed using an image segmentation model trained to recognise woodland symbols and patterns initially within Wales. The model was trained using manually labelled historic OS map data and designed to detect different types of woodland based on their cartographic representation.

The trained model was applied systematically across England to generate predictions for woodland extent. These predictions were converted into polygon features and georeferenced to align with modern mapping system coordinates.

The Welsh Government Data Science Unit and Forestry Commission applied a series of geospatial processing steps to improve the usability of the dataset. This included:

• combining overlapping predictions
• resolving inconsistencies between adjacent areas
• simplifying geometries
• ensuring the dataset is usable within Geographic Information Systems

Where to access the dataset

You can download the historic woodland (AI predicted) dataset from the:

• Forestry Commission open data portal
• Defra data services platform

You can also view it using the Forestry Commission map browser.

The map is open data and is covered by the terms and conditions of the Open Government Licence.

Data quality and limitations

This dataset is derived from the predictions of an AI model and includes a degree of uncertainty. It does not represent a definitive or complete record of historic woodland and should not be interpreted as such.

Accuracy is influenced by the quality and consistency of the underlying historic OS maps and the ability of the AI model to correctly interpret different map symbols. Some areas of England have lower map quality or use alternative symbology, which can affect prediction accuracy.

Known issues include:

• misclassification of non-woodland features such as buildings, or errors where shading or linework on the historic maps resemble woodland symbols
• artificial boundaries or visible edges between areas where map tiles were processed separately
• small, fragmented polygons created during data processing

Differences between historic map sources, including variations in scale and symbol design, can lead to inconsistencies in how woodland is represented across the dataset. Some woodland types, particularly brushwood, are more prone to misclassification and may require additional filtering or validation before use.

Further information

For further information on the historic woodland 1891-1914 (AI predicted) dataset for England, email historic@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

For more advice on the historic environment in forestry, read our historic environment guidance for forestry in England.