In Britain, an ancient woodland is defined as:
"an area of woodland that, through documentary, archaeological or botanical evidence, can be shown to have been in existence before 1600."
This was a time before the widespread planting of trees began. The pervasiveness of planting makes it less likely to be sure that the wood predated 1600.
Few of these ancient woodlands will date back to the original wildwood: the arboreal canopy that flourished as the glaciers withdrew from the country.
Are there any near where you live?
Image: Wistman's Wood - ancient woodland in Dartmoor - Alan Parkinson - shared on Flickr under CC license.
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