Road through Raincliffe Woods - North Yorkshire

The road runs through Raincliffe Woods, an area of ancient woodland.

In the United Kingdom, an ancient woodland is a woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (or 1750 in Scotland). Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally.



Beech Trees Raincliffe Woods

In most ancient woods, the trees and shrubs have been cut down periodically as part of the management cycle. Provided that the area has remained as woodland, the stand is still considered ancient. Since it may have been cut over many times in the past, ancient woodland does not necessarily contain very old trees.


Bleubells and Wood Anemones Raincliffe Woods




Species of plants which are particularly characteristic of ancient woodland sites are called ancient woodland indicator species, examples of such indicators are; wood anemone (above), bluebells, yellow archangel and primrose.