Langdale Forest

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Langdale Forest
Unmapped forestry road in Langdale Forest - geograph.org.uk - 527795.jpg
Forestry road in Langdale Forest
Map
North Yorkshire UK location map (2023).svg
Red pog.svg
Geography
Location North Yorkshire,Yorkshire and the Humber,England
Coordinates 54°20′31″N0°36′57″W / 54.3419°N 0.6157°W / 54.3419; -0.6157
Elevation61–290 metres (200–950 ft) (range)
224.3 metres (736 ft) (average)
Area
  – maximum
2,993.8 hectares (7,398 acres)in 2022 [1]
Administration
Status Forestry England
Established1934

Langdale Forest is an area of primarily coniferous woodland at the southern end of the North York Moors National Park, in North Yorkshire, England. The forest covers an area of 2,993.8 hectares (7,398 acres) and includes May Moss, a peatland that is recognised by the IUCN. Some areas of coniferous plantations within the forest that have been felled in the 21st century, have been replaced with broad-leaved trees. Alongside neighbouring Dalby Forest, and nearby Cropton Forest, Langdale Forest forms part of the North Riding Forest Park.

Contents

History

The forest lies 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) north-west of Scarborough, and 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north-east of Pickering, located within the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire, England. [2] In 2021, it consisted of 64% coniferous tree cover, 7% broad-leaf cover, 25% open land or scrubland, and the remaining 4% was land cover with felled trees. [3] The forest is so named after the nearby village of Langdale End, and one of the prominent features of the forest, Langdale Rigg. [4] Langdale itself is recorded as a name as far back as 1335, and means Long Valley. [5] The land for the forest was acquired in 1934, and 1938, with the portion on the east bank of the River Derwent first, and the area on the west bank side around Broxa, second. [4] The geology of the area is sandstone of the Osgodby Formation which is overlain with clay and sand. [6]

Prior to the establishment of the forest, the land had been used for sheep-grazing and as a military training area (large parts of which also became the RAF Fylingdales base in 1963). The only wooded areas were the steep sides of the gorge on either side of the River Derwent, which also forms the northern boundary of the forest on its western side. [4] [7] The average height range of the forest cover is 224.3 metres (736 ft), with the lowest point being the River Derwent gorge (61 metres (200 ft)), to the highest at High Wood Howe, which is 290 metres (950 ft). [8] [9] Several streams within the forest are tributaries of the River Derwent. [10]

Langdale forms part of the North Riding Forest Park, which also includes the adjacent Dalby Forest (to the south-west) and nearby Cropton Forest. [11] All of these forests have suffered from illegal off-roading activities in the 21st century. [12]

May Moss

May Moss is a peatland on the north-western edge of Langdale Forest that borders RAF Fylingdales to the north. The bog is believed to be 9,000 years old, and was included as part of the forest as spruce trees were planted there. [13] The bog covers an area of 150 hectares (370 acres), and in 2012, over 170,000 trees were removed from the bog area to prevent May Moss drying out as the trees root zones were taking the water. [14] The bog acts as a sponge during cloudbursts, preventing excess flooding on the River Derwent. [15] The peat restoration project included many partners and the site is registered as part of the peatland programme with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [16]

Scheduled monuments

Langdale Rigg End Trig Point Langdale Rigg End Trig Point - geograph.org.uk - 3127451.jpg
Langdale Rigg End Trig Point
Uncultivated area near the edge of Langdale Forest Uncultivated area near the edge of Langdale Forest - geograph.org.uk - 520827.jpg
Uncultivated area near the edge of Langdale Forest

The forest contains over 15 scheduled monuments, all listed with Historic England, being noted for their history dating back to the Bronze Age.

Scheduled monuments within Langdale Forest
NameRef
Round barrow 610m south west of High Langdale End [17]
Round barrow 430m SSW of High Langdale End [18]
Round barrow 330m south west of High Langdale End [19]
Round barrow 280m south west of High Langdale End [20]
Round barrow 450m west of High Langdale End [21]
Round barrow on Maw Rigg, 1.6km south west of High Langdale End [22]
Round barrow on Maw Rigg, 1.5km south west of High Langdale End [23]
Round barrow 490m south west of High Langdale End [24]
Maw Rigg cairnfield in Langdale Forest [25]
Round barrow on Derwent Head Rigg, 145m east of High Woof Howe [26]
Round barrow on Derwent Head Rigg, 200m east of High Woof Howe [27]
Brecken Howe round barrow [28]
Round barrow on Lun Rigg, 890m east of Brecken Howe [29]
Low Woof Howe round barrow [30]
High Woof Howe round barrow at Derwent Head Rigg [31]
Round cairn cemetery at High Greens 460m south east of Brecken Howe [32]

Recreation

In 1993, the Forestry Commission opened up over 30 miles (48 km) of mountain bike trails within the forest. [33] During the 1980s, Langdale and Wykeham Forest were used as part of a rallying course, with Finnish driver Hannu Mikkola crashing in Langdale Forest. [34]

Wildlife

In 2012, £24,000 was spent on ecological improvements to the becks in the forest to provide a stable habitat for water voles. [35] Some conifers were felled and scrub was cleared to allow "suitable vegetation" to grow that the water voles favour. [36] Nightjars have established what has been described as a "Northern stronghold" in the forest, with over 70 males recorded in 2011. [37] The bog area at May Moss is known to be host to common lizards and adders. [38] Like other nearby forests, Langdale has a population of red and roe deer. [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North York Moors</span> National park in North Yorkshire, England

The North York Moors is an upland area in north-eastern Yorkshire, England. It contains one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. The area was designated as a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Covering an area of 554 sq mi (1,430 km2), the National Park has a population of 23,380. It is administered by the North York Moors National Park Authority, whose head office is based in Helmsley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Derwent, Yorkshire</span> River in Yorkshire, England

The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It flows from Fylingdales Moor in the North York Moors National Park, east then southwards as far as its confluence with the River Hertford then westwards through the Vale of Pickering, south through Kirkham Gorge and the Vale of York, joining the River Ouse at Barmby on the Marsh. The confluence is unusual in that the Derwent converges on the Ouse at a shallow angle in an upstream direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hathersage</span> Village in Derbyshire, England

Hathersage is a village and civil parish in the Peak District in Derbyshire, England. It lies slightly to the north of the River Derwent, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) south-west of Sheffield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holme-on-Spalding-Moor</span> Village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Holme-on-Spalding-Moor is a large village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 7 miles (11 km) north-east of Howden and 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Market Weighton. It lies on the A163 road where it joins the A614 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cringle Moor</span>

Cringle Moor, at 432 m (1,417 ft), is the third highest hill in the North York Moors, England, and the highest point west of Clay Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thwing, East Riding of Yorkshire</span> Village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Thwing is a village and civil parish in the Yorkshire Wolds, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burbage Brook</span> River in England

Burbage Brook is an upper tributary stream of the River Derwent in the Peak District of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosedale, North Yorkshire</span> Valley in North Yorkshire, England

Rosedale is a valley located almost in the centre of the North York Moors national park in North Yorkshire, England. The nearest town is Kirkbymoorside, some 7 miles (11 km) to the south. Rosedale is surrounded by moorland. To the north-west sits Blakey Ridge at over 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level. At Dale Head is the source of the River Seven,which flows down the valley to join the River Rye at Little Habton near Malton. At its southern end Rosedale is squeezed between Spaunton Moor and Hartoft Rigg, where the river flows out through Forestry Commission woodland before passing the village of Cropton to reach the plains of the Vale of Pickering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A166 road</span> A-road in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

The A166 road is a trunk road between the outskirts of York and Driffield in the historic county of Yorkshire. The road used to terminate at the seaside town of Bridlington, until the opening of the Driffield by-pass caused the final section to be renumbered as the A614.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewden Valley</span> Valley in South Yorkshire, England

Ewden Valley is a valley in the civil parish of Bradfield in the Stocksbridge and Upper Don electoral ward of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Langdale</span> Valley in the Lake District, England

Little Langdale is a valley in the Lake District, England, containing Little Langdale Tarn and a hamlet also called Little Langdale. A second tarn, Blea Tarn, is in a hanging valley between Little Langdale and the larger Great Langdale to the north. Little Langdale is flanked on the south and southwest by Wetherlam and Swirl How, and to the north and northwest by Lingmoor Fell and Pike of Blisco. The valley descends to join with Great Langdale above Elter Water.

The archaeology of Hatfield and Thorne moors has been investigated over the last 40 years and includes significant finds of Bronze Age and Neolithic trackways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickering Beck</span> River in North Yorkshire, England

Pickering Beck is a river that runs for over 18 miles (29 km) from its source in the North York Moors National Park through the town of Pickering and on to its confluence with Costa Beck at Kirby Misperton. It is a meandering river that is fed by numerous named and unnamed becks and streams which flow over sandstone and limestone beds and an alluvia of sand, clay silt and gravel. The beck is known for flooding and in recent times has been a beneficiary of funding and experimental flood protection schemes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skipwith Common</span> Nature reserve in North Yorkshire, England

Skipwith Common is a national nature reserve south of Skipwith, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of only three areas within the Vale of York that represent what the area was like before intensive agriculture took over. Natural England have described the reserve as having "international importance" on account of "its wet and dry heathland".

This is a list of scheduled monuments in the district of High Peak in the English county of Derbyshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wykeham Forest</span> Forest in North Yorkshire, England

Wykeham Forest is a 2,760-acre (1,115-hectare) woodland 6 miles (9.7 km) in the North York Moors National Park, near to Wykeham, west of Scarborough, England. The wood is a mixture of conifer and broadleaf trees, with some open ground and a Forestry Commission nursery. The wood was planted in stages between 1924 and 1987, with open land being purchased by the commission. Recreational activities such as walking, bicycling and horse-riding are undertaken in the forest.

References

  1. ↑ Rylance 2022, p. 4.
  2. ↑ "Red Palaeosols Found in Northern England". Nature. 242 (5395): 231. March 1973. Bibcode:1973Natur.242..231.. doi:10.1038/242231b0. S2CID   4298871.
  3. ↑ Rylance 2022, pp. 3–4.
  4. 1 2 3 HoLF 1952, p. 2.
  5. ↑ Smith, A. H. (1979) [1928]. The Place Names of the North Riding of Yorkshire. English Place Name Society. p. 99. OCLC   19714705.
  6. ↑ Hart, Jonathan (December 2012). Potash Exploration North Yorkshire Programme of Archaeological Works (Phase 1; June 2011 to August 2012) (Report). Cotswold Archaeology. p. 7. doi:10.5284/1055465.
  7. ↑ "OL27" (Map). North York Moors - Eastern area. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2017. ISBN   978-0-319-24266-7.
  8. ↑ HoLF 1952, p. 5.
  9. ↑ "Langdale Forest, Scarborough - area information, map, walks and more". getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Mian, Ishaq; Begum, Shaheen; Riaz, Muhammad; Ridealgh, Mike; McClean, Colin; Cresser, Malcolm (January 2010). "Spatial and temporal trends in nitrate concentrations in the River Derwent, North Yorkshire, and its need for NVZ status". Science of the Total Environment. 408 (4): 707. Bibcode:2010ScTEn.408..702M. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.11.020.
  11. ↑ "Dalby Forest". yorkshire.com. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "North Yorkshire beauty spots damaged by illegal off-road vehicles". BBC News. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Water levels measured at ancient North York Moors bog". Gazette & Herald. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Removal of 170,000 trees helps restore fragile bog that's nearly 9,000 years old". The Yorkshire Post. 14 August 2012. ProQuest   1033297290.
  15. ↑ Branagan, Mark (13 September 2009). "Expansion plan means moors won't be bogged down by floods". The Yorkshire Post. ProQuest   335433233.
  16. ↑ "May Moss | IUCN UK Peatland Programme". IUCN Peatland Programme. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  17. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow 610m south west of High Langdale End (1019443)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow 430m SSW of High Langdale End (1019442)". National Heritage List for England .
  19. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow 330m south west of High Langdale End (1019444)". National Heritage List for England .
  20. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow 280m south west of High Langdale End (1019445)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  21. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow 450m west of High Langdale End (1019441)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  22. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow on Maw Rigg, 1.6km south west of High Langdale End (1019970)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  23. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow on Maw Rigg, 1.5km south west of High Langdale End (1019630)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  24. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow 490m south west of High Langdale End (1020198)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  25. ↑ Historic England. "Maw Rigg cairnfield in Langdale Forest (1019631)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  26. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow on Derwent Head Rigg, 145m east of High Woof Howe (1019376)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  27. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow on Derwent Head Rigg, 200m east of High Woof Howe (1019377)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  28. ↑ Historic England. "Brecken Howe round barrow (1019378)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  29. ↑ Historic England. "Round barrow on Lun Rigg, 890m east of Brecken Howe (1019379)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  30. ↑ Historic England. "Low Woof Howe round barrow (1019374)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  31. ↑ Historic England. "High Woof Howe round barrow at Derwent Head Rigg (1019375)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  32. ↑ Historic England. "Round cairn cemetery at High Greens 460m south east of Brecken Howe (1019446)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  33. ↑ Elliott, Harvey; Webster, Philip (21 January 1993). "Holidays with get up and go". The Times. No. 64547. p. 15. ISSN   0140-0460.
  34. ↑ "Alen the master as leaders crash". The Daily Telegraph. No. 41, 499. 25 November 1988. p. 26. ISSN   0307-1235.
  35. ↑ Jeeves, Paul (21 May 2012). "Water voles make a comeback as 'Ratty' is given a helping hand". The Yorkshire Post. p. 8. ISSN   0963-1496.
  36. ↑ McCandlish, Sophie (17 May 2020). "The race to save water voles in the North York Moors National Park". The Yorkshire Post.
  37. ↑ Jeeves, Paul (27 June 2011). "Nightjar returns to Northern woodlands". The Yorkshire Post. p. 7. ISSN   0963-1496.
  38. ↑ Beer, Amy-Jane (23 May 2023). "Country diary: A boggy, untouched paradise for wildlife". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  39. ↑ Rylance 2022, p. 14.

Sources

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