I agree with @Dovefromabove. Leave it as natural as possible but managed to help both trees and wildlife thrive.
The trees won't appreciate raised beds anyway and they'd look all wrong. Clear away scrubs and dead wood and use some to make wildlife habitats for birds and small creatures. Then do some research about woodland plants and which ones like deep shade and which like dappled and then make a list of what will suit both your need for attractive plants as well as provide nectar, pollen, fruits and shelter for birds and insects.
Before you plant anything, improve selected glades with plenty of well-rotted manure, garden compost and leaf mould so they have a good start.
I advise you to try and get a copy of Beth Chatto's Woodland Garden and read that.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Actually, if you were clever with the tree/shrub placement, you could create some rather nice winding paths and secret places so you wouldn't see everything at once. Then you could plant some 'treasures' to give you and visitors extra pleasure.
Me too - native woodland is a wonderful asset. I don't know what grows naturally in your area, and I guess I'm not alone in imagining the sort of woodland we love in Britain & Ireland, with carpets of shade-loving native plants and bulbs, and areas of scrub (brambles included) for the little birds and other wildlife. Your woodland may be different, but I'm sure it's equally valuable ecologically. Personally I wouldn't be too quick to clear the brambles.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I haven't been in this area in a long time but I noticed something curious growing along the bank of this pond. These are sea oates that I'm afraid may have come from my garden. They are native to the coast of Texas but I don't think they grow this far from the shore. I planted a few in my beds as an ornamental grass but wow I guess they like it here.this is about 400m from where I planted them. Do you grow sea oates as an ornamental grass? Might be illegal in the u.k.?
Just Googled it looks like they are native to Central Texas and so I didn't introduce something I should not have. I bought them at a big box nursery last year. Didn't know they spread like that.
If it's Chasmanthium latifolium (there seem to be 2 different grasses with the same common name) it's definitely available to buy as an ornamental grass in UK. It's described as "robust" but maybe not invasive in our conditions.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I just googled Sea Oats too, to see if we have the plant here and if so under what name. Seems there are two different species, Sea Oats and Inland Sea Oats, so you may have the latter and the former is the native plant. https://npsot.org/wp/collincounty/2021/05/05/inland-sea-oats/
We can buy Chasmanthium latifolium (inland sea oats) in this country (Sarah Raven has it and calls it North American Wild Oats).
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The trees won't appreciate raised beds anyway and they'd look all wrong. Clear away scrubs and dead wood and use some to make wildlife habitats for birds and small creatures. Then do some research about woodland plants and which ones like deep shade and which like dappled and then make a list of what will suit both your need for attractive plants as well as provide nectar, pollen, fruits and shelter for birds and insects.
Before you plant anything, improve selected glades with plenty of well-rotted manure, garden compost and leaf mould so they have a good start.
I advise you to try and get a copy of Beth Chatto's Woodland Garden and read that.
Actually, if you were clever with the tree/shrub placement, you could create some rather nice winding paths and secret places so you wouldn't see everything at once. Then you could plant some 'treasures' to give you and visitors extra pleasure.
https://npsot.org/wp/collincounty/2021/05/05/inland-sea-oats/
We can buy Chasmanthium latifolium (inland sea oats) in this country (Sarah Raven has it and calls it North American Wild Oats).