Thetford Forest is the largest manmade lowland forest and largest pine forest in Britain, covering almost 19,000 hectares.\u00a0 Most of the timber goes for construction and joinery material but some finds its way into woodwool, pulpwood, transmission poles, fencing and pallets.\u00a0 Most of the forest is Corsican pine, although Scots pine does also feature.\u00a0 The normal rotational felling and replanting creates a varied forest age structure, therefore encouraging a wide range of habitats for plants, insects, birds and other animals.\u00a0 This does mean that familiar\u00a0forests can disappear quickly, almost over night, creating vast empty spaces, but in time these are planted with new seedlings which will mature into another forest.\u00a0 Having said that, there are areas protected due to their conservation value, which include sites for Crossbill,\u00a0Goshawk, Woodlarks\u00a0and Nightjar, plus plants such as the Military Orchid.\u00a0 Golden Pheasants prefer the young conifers that have been established for 11 to 25 years.<\/p>\n