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Woodlands to Visit
We have provided you with information about some Yorkshire Woodlands that you may like to visit.
To download a word version of this list please click here.
The Arboretum Trust, Kew at Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
Grid Reference - SE 705971
The Arboretum Trust, a registered charity, has a stunning collection of over 6,000 rare trees and shrubs collected as seed worldwide and nurtured as a bank for future regeneration. Although the landscape of the arboretum links back to John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor in the early 18th Century, the current design and planting owes most to Dr James Russell VMH who, from the 1960's, established the broad vistas and enormously enhanced the tree collection. The arboretum strives to continually acquire and conserve new plant species and covers 150 acres of hills and valleys with shaded walks, lakes and ponds. It provides the freedom to roam and enjoy the huge variety of wild flowers and bird life.
Access to the arboretum is through the new Visitors and Education Centre where the Trust's Education Officer is on hand to provide support for visiting school groups and can deliver a range of hands on activities within the arboretum.
For more information e-mail education@kewatch.co.uk
Bawtry Forest, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorks,
DN10 post code district
Grid Reference - 632958 Landranger 111
A large area of commercially managed woodland, on a fairly level site. It has large compartments of Corsican and Scots Pine, several areas of new planting and areas that have regenerated naturally.
This site is best used through the facilities offered by Austerfield Field Centre, who have a range of activities developed for the wood.
Blackmoorfoot Reservoir Woods, Huddersfield
Grid Reference - SE 099126
This woodland is predominately broadleaf trees planted in the 1930's as a shelterbelt around the reservoir. There is a mixture of broadleaf species with a shrub layer of rhododendron and holly.
This reservoir is popular with bird watching groups
Brayton Barff Woods, Brayton, Selby, YO8 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 587308
The Barff is a covered reservoir set in a woodland at a popular local beauty spot of some ornithological interest. Located between the villages of Brayton and Thorpe Willoughby and just off the A19 to the south of Selby it is easily accessible.
There are many footpaths, all are good for various reasons.
Further details..
City of Leeds Forest, Leeds
Click here for The Forest of Leeds, North map
Click here for The Forest of Leeds, South map
The Forest of Leeds is a Leeds City Council initiative that is striving to enhance the woodlands, countryside and urban green spaces of Leeds. This "Community Forest" initiative was launched in September 1993 as a five year "Implementation" project, funded jointly by Leeds City Council and the Countryside Agency with grant aid from the Forestry Commission. Initially focusing upon four "Forest Zones" in south Leeds, the Forest is a partnership between the Local Authority, private landowners, environmental organisations and local people.
Clain Woods, Swainby, Northallerton, North Yorks
DL6 post code district
Grid Reference - 482008 - Explorer OL26
Clain Wood lies on the steep north facing scarp slope of the Cleveland Hills, south of the village of Swainby and overlooking Scugdale Beck. The scarp rises from around the 120m contour to a height around 310m in just over half a kilometre, steepening in the upper part above 250 metres, to form some low crags. Apart from the beck at the foot of the woods, there are no obvious water courses. The ground is very wet in places, and in the west of the wood, springs are marked on the map.
The rocks forming the scarp in this area are from the Middle Jurrassic, the Lower, Middle and Upper Estuarine series of sandstones. They have been worked extensively for coal, ironstone and jet, and remains of this industrial past are found throughout the woods.
Tree species are varied, there are ancient oaks marking the boundaries of fields that must have existed 300 yrs ago, stands of larch, grand fir, noble fir, mixed compartments of 35yr old oak and beech, areas that have naturally regenerated, and an area that had suffered the loss of around a thousand trees in a severe gale two years ago, that is now replanted with hardwoods such as oak and beech.
Access to the wood is relatively easy, a hard surfaced forest track leads from the Swainby - Osmotherley road, past a farm and up through the woods. The Cleveland Way runs through the wood and descends to cross the Scugdale Beck, and there are a number of broad forestry roads.
Cod Beck Reservoir Woods, Osmotherley, Northallerton
North Yorks, DL6 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 461985
This woodland is planted on former pasture land adjacent to heather moors. The woodland is dominated by coniferous trees, planted during the 60's and 70's with some ancient boundary trees and broadleaf plantings. From the late 1990's tree felling and re-planting has added structural diversity to the area and increased the species range. Main species are spruce, pine and larch with sycamore and native broadleaves.
This woodland surrounds the reservoir in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.
Damflask Reservoir Woods, Loxley, Sheffield, South Yorks
Grid Reference - SK 274905
This is a mixed woodland with many species of trees of a variety of ages. Largely dating from the 50's the wide range of species gives great character to the area.
Some of the wooded area is steep but the level path gives easy access to the woodland, including wheelchair users.
The reservoir is used for sailing and fishing.
Esholt Hall Woods, Esholt, Shipley, BD17 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 190397
The woodland is part of an old estate with a major residency - now the Yorkshire Water training facility, which has resulted in a mixture of conifer and broadleaf species of a mixture of ages, pre 1900 to 2000. Some areas are ancient woodland and there are a number of parkland trees and unusual individual specimens.
The area holds a population of roe deer and the ground flora in some locations is typical of ancient broadleaf woodlands for the area with blue bells in the spring. This woodland is a quiet retreat from the nearby urban conurbations and commuter routes.
Fuelling a Revolution- Ancient Woodlands -
Rotherham, Barnsley and Sheffield
The 35 Heritage Woodlands in the Fuelling a Revolution programme are spread throughout the area of the South Yorkshire Forest. Four of the woodlands lie within Barnsley, ten within Rotherham, and the remaining 21 within Sheffield. All 35 of the woodlands are freely open to the public.
Langsett Reservoir Woods, Langsett, Barnsley,
South Yorks, S36 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 211005
This woodland, planted on former pasture land is predominately coniferous with ancient trees on the edge of ancient track ways, streams and field boundaries.
Planted in the 50's, 60's and 70's the species are mainly Spruce, Pine and Larch. However there are areas of much older trees - 1930's and broadleaves which add character to this extensive upland woodland.
Planted around the reservoir the woodland area was declared open access by Yorkshire Water for foot access in Dec 2000. The nearby moor (not Yorkshire Water) is open to foot access under an access agreement.
Riverside Farm, Sinnington, York, North Yorks,
YO62 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 737865
Riverside farm lies on the north western edge of the picturesque village of Sinnington at a point where the River Seven leaves its steep sided valley to flow southward across the flat Vale of Pickering.
From the farm a track leads northwards up the western bank of the river. There is an area of new planting and close to the bank a line of old oaks with Tree Preservation Orders on them, interspersed with lesser trees. The track, marked on maps as The Stripe, follows the river west and climbs to the main group of trees that form Bishop Hagg Wood, to the right of this path the land drops very steeply to the river some 25m below. The woods reach a height of 100m ASL some 60m above the farm and slope down to the east and south.
Ryburn Reservoir Woods, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge,
West Yorks, HX6 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 023188
This ancient woodland site was mainly planted in the 1940's but there are areas of more recent planting in 1997.
Main species are oak and beech with larch present. The woodland ground flora is not species rich but blue bells show in spring.
This woodland surrounds the reservoir in a Pennine valley.
Scammonden Reservoir Woods, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Grid Reference - SE 055162
This woodland is a group of individual blocks making up the whole. It was planted on former pasture land, mainly during the 1970's ollowing the building of the M62 motorway and reservoir.
The woodland is dominated by coniferous trees with some ancient boundary trees and broadleaf plantings especially along water courses. During the early 2000's new planting has taken place adding structural and species diversity to the area and linking the woodland blocks unifying the landscape.
Main species are pine and larch with sycamore and native broadleaves.
Sutton Woods, Newton upon Derwent, York
YO41 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 712482
An interesting varied woodland, sloping gently westward to the flood plain of the River Derwent. The wood is managed as an amenity rather than as commercial woodland and there are a number of good quality tracks and paths. The owner is keen that the wood is used for recreational and educational purposes.
There is a good variety of trees, both coniferous and deciduous, creating a wide range of habitats, with new planting in the centre of the wood.
A most interesting man-made feature is the overgrown remains of a motte and bailey castle.
Tophill Low Nature Reserve Woods, Burshill, Nr Beverley,
Driffield, YO25 post code district
Grid Reference - TD 070483
This is a mixed species woodland, mainly planted in the 1970's. The woodlands complement the nature reserves primary feature of wetland habitats. Adjacent to the river Hull these woods and wetland attract many native and migrating birds.
The wooded area has level paths which gives easy access to the woodland.
A number of management techniques are undertaken to create habitats like coppice, scrub, deadwood and pollarding. A variety of bird and bat boxes can be seen in the woods attracting owl and other hole nesting species.
The nature reserve has approximately 150 bird species visits with 60 species breeding.
Underbank Reservoir Woods, Stocksbridge,
Sheffield, S36 post code district
Grid Reference - SK 248993
This woodland, planted on former pasture land is predominately coniferous with ancient trees on the edge of streams and former field boundaries.
Planted in the 60's the species are mainly Spruce, Pine and Larch. However there are areas of much older broadleaf trees particularly along streams which add character to this woodland. Planted adjacent to the reservoir the wood has foot access on permissive and definitive rights of way.
Washburn Valley Woods, Washburn Valley, Nr Blubberhouses
Harrogate, HG3 post code district
Grid Reference - SE 187538
An extensively wooded area within the Washburn Valley, surrounding 3 reservoirs and adjacent to pasture land and moors.
Following the river Washburn and its tributaries for 8.5km these woodlands are varied. Some areas are plantation dating from 1930's to present day, others are natural ancient woods and others newly regeneration. The species match the woodland variety with a mix of conifers - spruce, pine, fir and larch and broadleaf - sycamore, sweet chestnut, ash, birch, oak, beech and other native species.
Within the woods are a variety of woodland habitats, wet, streamside, dry heath, ancient woodland, crag and glade. Woodland species of plant, insect and bird have found their niche and add to the variety of experiences.
Some of the wooded areas have level paths which gives easy access to the woodland other areas are more demanding.
The area is criss-crossed with permissive footpath as well as definitive routes for pedestrians, horse and cycle users.