Atlantic Hazel

What is 'Atlantic hazel'? It is hazel that occurs in the oceanic climatic areas of the Western British Isles. But, it is more than that, because hazel occurs widely all down the west side of Britain and Ireland, but only in a very few places does it achieve particular characteristics that mark it out as a distinctive habitat of high biodiversity. You know when you step into an Atlantic hazelwood in Argyll, that this is somehow 'different'; you are struck by the greenness, the lushness, the strangeness of a dwarf wood. This is part of the 'Celtic rainforest'.

The following pages provide an introduction to this special habitat, the species that depend upon it and how to manage hazel woods for biodiversity. Each page links to a chapter of the SNH publication 'Atlantic Hazel', which provide much more information and illustrations. Alternatively, you can download the full publication  (but note this is a large file at 21MB).

Introduction to Atlantic hazel

Get an introduction to the history and diversity of this internationally important woodland type.

Description of Atlantic hazel

More detail about hazel and what makes Atlantic hazel so special. Find out about it's flowers and nuts, growth forms, climate and huge species diversity.

Hazel dynamics

Discover how hazel goes through a continual cycle of rejuvenation and decay, and why this contributes to the diversity of species that depend on it as a habitat.

Diversity

An introduction to the flowers, ferns, mosses, liverworts, fungi and lichens that inhabit Scotland's Atlantic hazel.

Management

Find out what management can improve the diversity and quality of Atlantic hazel and what activities could cause serious damage.

Assess your local hazelwood

A simple tool to help you assess how important your local hazelwood is for biodiversity.