In article ,
martin wrote:

The downs and the northern moors were not cleared of trees in modern
times. The moors were cleared during prehistoric times, the downs in
the middle ages

No, they were cleared much earlier than that. It was the change from
arable to pastoral use that happened in the middle ages.

The Kentish downs were cleared of trees by iron makers looking for
fuel.

See Rackham - that is a myth.

It was put forward as fact in a fairly recent BBC program. There are
web sites saying the same thing.

Doubtless. A myth can get around the world before the facts have
got their boots on.

That is the probable origin of the
large amount of coppiced woodland in Kent, because that provides
wood that can be cut on a 20-year rotation.

They haven't made iron in Kent in the last two hundred years.

You will find that the coppiced woodlands are a lot older than 200
years, I can assure you.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.