Forest vs Woods
So what’s the difference between a forest and woods? While woodland is a “small” forest, the biggest difference between a forest and woodland lies in the density of trees found in each and the size of the area they cover. A forest covers a big land area with a high population of trees, while woodland has a much lower concentration of trees and a smaller land area.
A forest can also be defined by the mass of entwined branches, twigs, and leaves of mature trees (i.e., canopy). Forests have higher levels of canopy cover compared to woodlands.
A forest has an understory of shrubs, bushes, and younger trees well adapted to living under the shades of the canopy, while woodland may have grasses, shrubs, and plants inhabiting its understory.