woodland
n. C / Un. an area of land that is covered with trees. It is usually smaller than a forest and has more open space between the trees.
n. land covered with trees and shrubs, typically smaller or less dense than a forest. Often used to describe a specific habitat or ecosystem in environmental contexts.
We went for a long walk through the woodland.
The local council protected the ancient woodland to prevent developers from building new houses on the site.
Conservationists are working to restore the native woodland by removing invasive species and planting thousands of oak and beech saplings to encourage biodiversity.
From Middle English wodeland, wodelond, from Old English wuduland (“woodland; forestland; forest”), equivalent to wood + land. Compare West Frisian wâldlân, Dutch bosland, German Waldland, Icelandic skóglendi. Eclipsed non-native Middle English salt (“woodland”), borrowed from Latin saltus (“woodland, forest”).