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European beechwood in pale autumnal sunlight

Broadleaf forest

Broadleaf forests are the dominant habitat of the UK and most of temperate northern Europe. There's little left of Britain's ancient wildwood, but isolated pockets of oak, beech and mixed deciduous and evergreen woodlands are scattered across the continent, and dictate its biodiversity. These forests are most diverse in the eastern areas of North America and in China. Unlike many forests, plentiful immature trees and undergrowth means most life is on the forest floor.

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What lives here?

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Insects

Arachnids

Snails and slugs

Where you find Broadleaf forest

Map showing the location of the Broadleaf forest habitat

About Broadleaf forest

Mixed forests are a temperate and humid biome. The typical structure of these forests includes four layers. The uppermost layer is the canopy composed of tall mature trees ranging from 33 to 66 m (100 to 200 feet) high. Below the canopy is the three-layered, shade-tolerant understory that is roughly 9 to 15 m (30 to 50 feet) shorter than the canopy. The top layer of the understory is the sub-canopy which is composed of smaller mature trees, saplings, and suppressed juvenile canopy layer trees awaiting an opening in the canopy. Below the sub-canopy is the shrub layer, composed of low growing woody plants. Typically the lowest growing (and most diverse) layer is the ground cover or herbaceous layer.

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Behaviours

Useful behaviours for this habitat

Ecozones

Ecozones where this habitat is found

Habitats

Other Terrestrial habitats

BBC News about Broadleaf forest

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