New woodlands created adjacent to existing woodlands grow faster, taller and have higher structural diversity than isolated counterparts

Creating native woodland is a policy goal globally, and one strategy to maximize creation benefits in limited space target efforts extend existing woodlands. There evidence support spatially targeting habitat for biodiversity, however, there little of how this affects habitat's structural development. Here, space-for-time study using light detection ranging (LiDAR) data assesses the structure recently created woodlands, are affected by presence an adjacent older woodland. Recently woodlands were identified across Isle Wight UK historical maps satellite imagery. Canopy height foliage diversity derived all from LiDAR collected at two different time points (2011 2021), linear models used test any differences these metrics between sites with woodland, those without. The percentage change was also tested. In canopy found be higher average nearly 2 m, on 4.7% higher, 2021 data. Growth rates 2011 not significantly groups, although young grew most average. This research shows that creating reduces taken create tall lesser extent structurally diverse habitat, which may lead early biodiversity benefits.