Crossword Genius

Natural area where owl and dog briefly played (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

woodland

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'natural area' is the definition.
'woodland' can be an answer for 'area' (I have seen 'Forested area' mean 'woodland' so perhaps 'area' could also mean 'woodland'). I am unsure of the 'natural' bit.

'owl and dog briefly played' is the wordplay.
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'played' is an anagram indicator (letters playing around).
'owl'+'and'+'dog'='owlanddog'
'owlanddog' with its final letter taken off is 'owlanddo'.
'owlanddo' anagrammed gives 'WOODLAND'.

'where' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for woodland that I've seen before include "deal here maybe?" , "Forest" , "Area covered with trees and shrubs" , "Forested area" , "scene in nature" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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