Forests

Forests in the world of Arda were wondrous and alive with many strange forms of life; even trees that were sentient, such as Ents and Huorns. In some ways, they could at times be dangerous. Forests corrupted by the dark forces (such as Mirkwood) were even more dangerous and perilous, and contained many savage and unnatural creatures.

Significance to the Children of Ilúvatar[]

Elves seemed to be the only race of peoples fond of forests, particularly the Silvan, Nandorin, and Sindarin Elves that settled in them and stayed in their bounds. Men and Dwarves seemed to prefer living in walled cities and towns or underground, and generally cut down trees for their use. A few exceptions include the early Fallohides, living in the forested areas near the Misty Mountains; and the Drúedain, living in the forest of the same name. Orcs and other evil creatures generally hated forests, and usually hewed them down without pity nor respect to fuel their warmongering.

Peoples living in forested realms include:

The early Elves of Cuiviénen.
The Sindar of Doriath.
Eöl of Nan Elmoth.
The Laiquendi of Ossiriand.
The Silvan Elves of Greenwood the Great.
Woodmen near Mirkwood.
Elves of Lothlórien and East Lórien.

History[]

Ancient and First Age[]

Forests and woods, as with all growing things, originated with Yavanna, who planted their first seeds. They were under her direct care, until the evil of Melkor ruined and destroyed much of them long before the Awakening of the Elves. During the Years of the Trees, when the Valar traveled to Aman, all plant and animal life in Middle-earth slumbered in the Long Night. But with the rising of the Sun vast forests grew. These included parts of Beleriand, Eriador, where a vast forest reigned for thousands of years, and some in the land of Rhovanion where the huge Greenwood stood. The vast lands of the south of Middle-earth and much of the Dark Land where very few people lived also had many dense forested areas. All forests in Beleriand perished with its destruction at the end of the First Age.

Second Age[]

The vast primordial forests in Eriador stood until the middle of the age, when the Númenóreans began cutting them down to build their fleets, and fuel their desire for empire and dominion. Then, when Sauron declared war in SA 1693, much of the forested area in Eriador was burned to the ground or extensively damaged.

Third Age[]

By the Third Age all that remained of the vast forests of the west were Fangorn Forest and the Old Forest, guarded by the Ents and Tom Bombadil. When Sauron re-established himself in TA 1050 and moved to Dol Guldur, Greenwood became evil and perilous and was unsafe to enter save in secret, becoming known as Mirkwood.

Fourth Age and beyond[]

With the defeat of Sauron in the War of the Ring and the clearing of Dol Guldur, Mirkwood was freed from evil, and Men and Elves worked to restore it to its former beauty. Perhaps the many forested areas survived the dominion of Men in the later ages but it is not known.

Links[]

Category:Forests and woods

Translations[]

Foreign Language	Translated name
Danish	Ardas skove