Conclusions on woods

The "woods" in this area were originally mostly scrub with some trees. It was never classed as forest. Although Princes Risborough was a royal borough and the Black Prince had a stud farm in the town, royalty never lived here. There are records in the sixteenth century when the land was let and legislation dictated that no great oaks were to be felled and that twelve staddels (young trees) had to be left to grow in every acre. A good law in a country where timber for ships and houses was of top priority.