Woodlands and hedgerows

Trees, woods and hedgerows form a small but important series of habitats for plants and wildlife in Nidderdale National Landscape.

Woodlands are important for nature conservation, providing a rich habitat for plants, animals, birds and insects.

We have recently created a new woodland opportunity plan to support planting the right trees in the right place.

You can find out more about our plan and how we can support  you with planting trees on our Tree planting advice page.

Woodland in the National Landscape

• Upland woodland: most of the woodland in upland areas was cleared more than a thousand years ago. Woodland sites are often scattered and small but despite this they can be of national or international importance with a wide range of species and communities not found in lowland English woods. The cool, wet upland conditions favour the growth of rare ferns, mosses and lichens
• Coniferous plantations: planted in more recent times for commercial purposes with non-native species. Their establishment has often been controversial because they replace open ground of high conservation value. However, some plantations have become a nature conservation resource in their own right providing a refuge for rarer bird species such as goshawk and long-eared owl
• Wet woodland: consisting of alder and willow where drainage is poor. This can be in upland gills or the valley bottom or even within the other types of woodland already described. They host sedges and ferns along with rare insect species
• Orchards: old and former orchards are of both historic and biodiversity value.

Hedgerows

Hedgerows are in effect linear woods, and the oldest ones were often left along fields and lanes after surrounding woodland was cleared. Whether ancient or recently planted, hedgerows provide a complex series of mini habitats within their narrow margins.

They range from streams and wet ditches to grassy banks as well as the woody species, trees and climbing plants in the hedge itself.

Older hedges may be the remnants of cleared ancient woodland and the rich variety of species in and around them is a clear indicator of their origins. Plants like primroses, wood garlic and wood anemone are common.

More recently planted hedges, like the hawthorn hedges associated with the 19th century Enclosure Acts, may have fewer plant species in them. However, they provide thin corridors of woodland along which birds and other animals may safely move from place to place.

Thousands of miles of hedgerows have been grubbed out since the 1950s as farming has become ever more intensive. Thankfully nowadays most agricultural hedgerows are protected by law. Countryside Stewardship schemes encourage farmers to look after and even improve their hedges.

Wood pasture and parkland

While created for different purposes,  both wood pasture and parkland have clumps or individual trees set in grassland.

Wood pasture has the longest history of the two types of woodland in Nidderdale AONB. It was created in medieval times when much of the area was kept as hunting forest for the nobility.

Areas of trees were managed within open pasture, providing a renewable source of firewood and leaf as fodder, while being far enough apart to allow grass to grow underneath for both farm animals and deer for the chase.

In parkland, individual trees were either left over from forest clearance or deliberately planted to enhance the landscape by their wealthy owners. The earliest parks were created to hold herds of deer for hunting while later parks were associated with grand country houses.

Some of these parkland trees may be very old and are designated as veteran trees. They support colonies of fungi and provide habitats for rarer Saproxylic beetles such as the stag beetle that eat decaying wood. The trees also provide important habitat for bird and bat species.

What are we doing to conserve the National Landscape’s woodlands and hedgerows?

• working with landowners to help them access woodland grants
• creating our new woodland opportunity plan to help with planting the right tree in the right place to make a positive impact on the environment
• appointing a Woodland Officer to provide free advice and support for tree planting in the National Landscape.
• providing supervised volunteer groups on tree planting projects and managing woodlands

What can you do to help protect Nidderdale National Landscape woodlands and hedgerows?

• if you are a landowner you may be eligible for a grant to help you create a new woodland
• seek advice before starting a planting project from our Woodland Officer by emailing [email protected].
• Join our volunteering programme and help us plant some trees!