Wildlife Welfare

Wild UK Woodpecker Welfare and Woodland

All three UK woodpecker species depend on mature woodland with dead and decaying wood for nesting and foraging welfare.

Key Facts

Great spotted woodpeckers are increasing while lesser spotted woodpeckers are declining rapidly
Dead wood in woodland is essential for all woodpecker species providing both food and nest sites
Woodland management that removes all dead wood creates poor habitat for woodpeckers
Green woodpeckers are heavily dependent on short-sward grassland with ants for food supply
Lesser spotted woodpecker population has declined by over 80% since the 1970s

Welfare Considerations

Woodpecker welfare depends on woodland management that retains dead and decaying wood and maintains mixed age structure. Intensive woodland management that removes all deadwood eliminates critical resources that woodpeckers depend on for food and nesting.

What You Can Do

Advocate for dead wood retention in woodland management plans
Support woodland conservation organisations maintaining old growth features for declining species
Create dead wood habitat in gardens including standing dead wood and log piles