The Lost Woods project, a partnership involving the Woodland Trust, Action in Rural Sussex, Sussex Wildlife Trust, and Small Woods Association, has documented 5,570 trees across a 121-square-mile region spanning from Lewes to Storrington. The initiative, which began in March 2024, represents one component of a broader restoration programme consisting of 19 separate projects funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Volunteers participating in the effort have been systematically surveying their assigned areas, with approximately 20 volunteers each responsible for covering one square kilometre. According to project leaders, the recorded total exceeds initial expectations and marks a meaningful achievement for the conservation effort. Once verified, all identified trees are added to the Ancient Tree Inventory, a database that has tracked the United Kingdom’s oldest and most significant trees for two decades.
The 5,570 recorded trees include 348 ancient trees in their final lifecycle stage, 2,467 notable trees representing mature specimens of substantial size relative to their surroundings, and 2,743 veteran trees that display characteristics associated with ancient trees. The remaining trees fall into additional categories. Project leaders have indicated that volunteers aim to complete their comprehensive survey of the designated area by next year, though substantial work remains to be accomplished.
According to project staff, these trees provide critical ecological value through the fungi they support, making them essential for landscape integrity and biodiversity. Officials characterize the current mapping phase as an initial step, with longer-term objectives focused on ensuring trees receive proper recognition, stewardship, and legal protections to enable them to continue sustaining wildlife and supporting communities throughout future generations.
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