The UK's main ecosystem, yet I bet you know more about the rainforest than the deciduous woodlands

This webpage will cover the following:

• the climate of the ecosystem
• the stratification (layers) of the ecosystem
• the different types of vegetation
• how the deciduous forest is used and sustainably managed

Video on the deforestation of the deciduous woodlands in the UK -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/changing-ecosystems-the-deforestation-of-britain/3234.html

The climate

Temperate Deciduous forests are found across much of north-west Europe, eastern North America and parts of East Asia. They occur in these regions because they are well suited to the moderate climate. The climate isn't extreme - summers are warm and winters are cool:

• the annual temperature range in these areas is low
• precipitation can occur throughout the year
• there is a long growing season

The soil

The most common type of soil is known as brown earth, which is reddish-brown in colour

Deciduous trees lose their leaves every year. The fallen leaves then slowly rot - helping to keep the soil fertile

Minerals are slowly washed (or leached) through the soil

The vegetation

Deciduous types their leaves in the winter, when the light and temperature falls. The vegetation in temperate deciduous forests grows in layers (see the
diagram below).
Bluebells grow very quickly in the spring so they can flower before the trees get their leaves as the forest floor is too dark to grow when the canopy is complete.

The stratification (layers) of the temperate deciduous woodlands