Howe Ridding Wood

About the reserve

Wildlife highlights

• In spring see wild daffodil and bluebell, damson and apple blossom and pearl bordered fritillary butterfly. 
• Summer butterflies such as high brown fritillary and plants such as dark red helleborine.
• In autumn the damsons and apples are ripening in the orchard.

Ancient woodland

Howe Ridding Wood is the most northerly part of Witherslack Woods, a large expanse of ancient woodland on the western side of Whitbarrow Scar.

Much of the nature reserve overlies the same Carboniferous limestone which forms the Scar.

Nationally rare Lancastrian whitebeam clings to the cliffs and scree, whilst small-leaved lime is found on terraces alongside the more common ash, oak and birch trees that tower over the delicate ground flora. 

Rare plants such as dark red helleborine, hoary rock-rose, mezereon and rigid buckler-fern are found here. Look out for green hellebore, wild daffodil and herb-paris.

The western edge of the wood is on the boundary of the limestone and the Silurian shale and Calf Close Wood, which overlies the shale, is a total contrast to the rest of the nature reserve with oak, birch and alder the dominant tree species. Bluebells are more numerous here.

Traditional orchard

At the northern end of the nature reserve is a small traditional orchard which has been replanted with Westmorland damson and apple trees.

Animals

You might spot both roe and red deer at Howe Ridding Wood. Buzzard, raven, sparrowhawk, woodcock, great spotted woodpecker, redstart and nuthatch are all regularly seen.

The coppice woodland provide good habitat for butterflies including pearl-bordered and high brown fritillary.

Keeping it special

Traditionally, the woodland was managed by coppicing and this was re-introduced in 1994 with a plot being cut every year. The newly coppiced plots have to be temporarily fenced to keep out the deer to allow the trees to re-grow.

The nature reserve has been leased to the Trust by Natural England since 1998.

Getting here by car:

From the A590 take the road signposted to Witherslack. From Witherslack continue north along the minor road, pass Witherslack Hall School and continue for a further 1.5km/0.9 miles.  Park where a public footpath leaves the road on the right hand side and follow the path through the woods for 0.7km/0.4 miles until the reserve is reached.

By bicycle:

The reserve is 5km/3 miles from National Route 72 (Walney to Wear).

By public transport:

Buses run from Barrow in Furness, Ulverston and Kendal to Witherslack