This study compares microarthropod communities across forest locations differing in soil age and soil phosphate levels, using a trait-based approach focused on the species’ feeding guild and body size. We compared 3 old forest soils, 19 young forest soils, and 10 old hedgerow soils. The old hedgerow soils resembled old forest soils in age, but have higher P-availability, allowing us to disentangle these effects.