Brigsteer Park Wood, Cumbria
N 54° 16.886 W 002° 47.194
30U E 513895 N 6014855
Brigsteer Park Wood is owned and managed by the National Trust, with free open access to all walkers and runners. There is one public footpath but visitors are free to walk anywhere. Several paths help you navigate around the woodland.
Waymark Code: WMFVBQ
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 12/03/2012
Views: 1
The National Trust took over the wood in 1950 (
visit link) and have restored it to a workable woodland. Clearing overgrowth to reveal woodland floor, for woodland flowers to flourish, leading to increasing numbers of butterflies. (
visit link)
Prior to local woodland industries becoming un-needed, this woodland would have been coppiced. Woodsmen would have produced charcoal for many local gunpowder works which closed in 1920's. Peeled bark for tanning leather, staves for turning into bobbins and made swill baskets. Nothing was wasted as the leaf material and undergrowth could be burnt for potash.
Near the south east entrance to this woodland, is an information board explaining what is happening to the trees and highlighting the likely butterflies. The paths are unimproved, with bare limestone rock and a dead leaves covering. The public footpath parallel to the western boundary has lagoons of mud in wet weather.
Above coordinates are a good place to park at the south east edge of the wood. (
visit link)
Report of study (
visit link)