North Yorkshire
England
Wykeham is the nearest town or village.
An established forest, mainly of pine and other conifers. The forest is being used as a centre for research into 'Alternatives To Clearfell' forestry. This work investigates ways of maintaining a timber-producing woodland whilst at the same time maintaining tree-cover and bio-diversity. The forest also supports one of the Forestry Commission's tree nurserys where many of Britain's forest trees begin life. There are fine views from High Wood Brow and Raptor viewpoints of Troutsdale and the upper reaches of the River Derwent.
Mammals: Wykeham Forest is the home to a range of forest mammals from mice, voles and hedgehogs to foxes, badgers and roe deer. Bats, particularly pipistrelle and brown long-eared, frequent the forest and are encouraged by the erection of bat boxes. We have information about Roe deer and Badger
Birds: This is a good forest for bird watching, combining good visibility with mixed ages and species of trees. Forest species include finches such as bullfinch, crossbill, siskin and brambling. Nightjars frequent the the younger crops and clearings in late spring and summer. We have information about Nightjar
Insects and reptiles: This is a good forest for common butterflies such as peacock and tortoiseshell. Two reptiles frequent the warmest rides and glades - the common lizard and the adder - but both are rarely seen. We have information about Adder
Habitats: Wykeham is a well-established and varied forest located on the southern Tabular Hills of the North York Moors. The land slopes gently to the Vale of Pickering in the south whilst in the north the forest is bounded by a steep scarp slope. Habitats vary from old pasture and broadleaved, streamside woodlands, to mature timber-producing stand of mixed conifers. Lime rich forest roads and springs provide a habitat for common spotted and twayblade orchids whislt acid heath areas support bilberry and ling heather.
How to get there:
By road. Approximately 6 miles west of Scarborough off the A170. Signed 'North Moor'.
Enter through:
Raptor Viewpoint
Highwood Brow
Facilities:
Activities:
Contact:
Brian Walker
Environment Officer
01751 472771
e-mail: nym@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
What's of interest
Wykeham Forest has been the site of human activity for thousands of years. Nearby were the 'lost' settlements of Newton and Preston, both mentioned in the Domesday Book. The forest has many burial mounds and other earthworks, probably bronze age in origin. On the north side of the forest was Bakers Warren, one of a number of 18c/19c commercial rabbit warrens.
Did you know
This is not the first forest on the site. By studying the soils under some of the burial mounds researchers were able to show that when the mounds were raised native forest was the prominent vegetation of the area. In fact the people who made the mounds almost certainly cleared the native forest.
What else is here
Useful sites
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