Howe Ridding Wood

image of trees bordering green open space at Howe ridding nature reserve - copyright john morrison

Howe Ridding Nature Reserve © John Morrison

Ancient woodland with exceptionally rich and interesting range of flowering plants. Coppice management benefits several species of butterfly and part of the nature reserve is a traditional orchard with Westmorland damson and apple trees.

Location

Between Kendal and Grange over Sands
Near Witherslack
Cumbria
LA11 6RW

OS Map Reference

OS 1:50,000. Sheet No. 97

Parking area:
Grid reference: SD 430 872
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Entrance:
Grid reference: SD 434 876
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A static map of Howe Ridding Wood

Know before you go

Size
29 hectares
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Entry fee

All donations are gratefully received.
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Parking information

Park where a public footpath leaves the road on the east side.

Bicycle parking

No

Grazing animals

No

Walking trails

From the nature reserve entrance, the main path goes as far as the orchard (0.7km/0.4 miles). There is no circular route and visitors must return along the same path (2.8km/1.6 miles total).

Access

Howe Ridding Wood is 0.7km/0.4 miles from a public road and is accessed via a public footpath.  The path can be muddy and has some steep sections.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open all year round

Best time to visit

April to August

About the reserve

Wildlife highlights

  • Spot birds such as buzzard, raven, sparrowhawk, woodcock, redstart and nuthatch.
  • You might spot both roe and red deer.
  • Pearl-bordered, high brown and silver-washed fritillary butterflies.
  • Discover wild daffodils and dark red helleborine and other unusual plants such as green hellebore and herb-paris.
  • In spring - see wild daffodil and bluebell, damson and apple blossom and pearl bordered fritillary butterfly. 
  • In summer -  The coppice woodland provide good habitat for butterflies including pearl-bordered and high brown fritillary.
  • 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.

The western edge of the wood, known as Calf Close Wood, is on Silurian shale where, in total contrast to the rest of the reserve, oak, birch and alder the dominant tree species. Bluebells are more numerous here.

What makes Howe Ridding Wood so special?

Nationally rare Lancastrian whitebeam clings to the cliffs and screes, 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.

Traditional orchard

A small traditional orchard at the northern end has been replanted with Westmorland damson and apple trees.

Keeping it special

Traditionally, the woodland would have been coppiced and this was reintroduced in 1994. By allowing sunlight to the woodland floor, plants are encouraged to flower, which benefits a number of butterfly species.   

The newly coppiced plots have to be temporarily fenced to keep out the deer to allow the trees to re-grow.

Recent history

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

Getting here by car:

From A590 take road signposted for Witherslack. Follow this through  the village, past Witherslack Hall  (now Oversands 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 70 Walney to Wear (W2W).

By public transport:

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

Contact us

Joe Murphy
Contact number: 01539 816300

Environmental designation

National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

Did you know?

The small-leaved lime tree is an indicator of ancient woodland. It has sweet-smelling flowers in summer and nut-like fruits in autumn.

Upcoming events at Howe Ridding Wood Nature Reserve

If there are any upcoming events at Howe Ridding Wood Nature Reserve we'll show them to you below.

A top down view of magazines and guides on a wood background, with wildlife and people images on the front
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