Langdale Forest
{{Short description|Forest in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox forest
| name = Langdale Forest
| photo = Unmapped forestry road in Langdale Forest - geograph.org.uk - 527795.jpg
| photo_caption = Forestry road in Langdale Forest
| map = North Yorkshire
| coordinates = {{coord|54.3419|-0.6157|display=inline, title}}
| county = North Yorkshire
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| country = England
| elevation = {{convert|200–950|ft|order=flip}} (range)
{{convert|224.3|m}} (average)
| area =
| max_area = {{convert|2993.8|ha}}
| date_max_area = 2022{{sfn|Rylance|2022|p=4}}
| status = Forestry England
| established = 1934
| visitation =
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Langdale Forest is an area of primarily coniferous woodland at the southern end of the North York Moors National Park, in North Yorkshire, England. The forest covers an area of {{convert|2993.8|ha}} and includes May Moss, a peatland that is recognised by the IUCN. Some areas of coniferous plantations within the forest that have been felled in the 21st century, have been replaced with broad-leaved trees. Alongside neighbouring Dalby Forest, and nearby Cropton Forest, Langdale Forest forms part of the North Riding Forest Park.
History
The forest lies {{convert|14|km}} north-west of Scarborough, and {{convert|16|km}} north-east of Pickering, located within the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire, England.{{cite journal |title=Red Palaeosols Found in Northern England |journal=Nature |date=March 1973 |volume=242 |issue=5395 |page=231 |doi=10.1038/242231b0|bibcode=1973Natur.242..231. |s2cid=4298871 }} In 2021, it consisted of 64% coniferous tree cover, 7% broad-leaf cover, 25% open land or scrubland, and the remaining 4% was land cover with felled trees.{{sfn|Rylance|2022|pp=3–4}} The forest is so named after the nearby village of Langdale End, and one of the prominent features of the forest, Langdale Rigg.{{sfn|HoLF|1952|p=2}} Langdale itself is recorded as a name as far back as 1335, and means Long Valley.{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=A. H. |title=The Place Names of the North Riding of Yorkshire |date=1979|orig-date=1928|oclc= 19714705|publisher=English Place Name Society|page=99}} The land for the forest was acquired in 1934, and 1938, with the portion on the east bank of the River Derwent first, and the area on the west bank side around Broxa, second.{{sfn|HoLF|1952|p=2}} The geology of the area is sandstone of the Osgodby Formation which is overlain with clay and sand.{{cite report |last1=Hart |first1=Jonathan |title=Potash Exploration North Yorkshire Programme of Archaeological Works (Phase 1; June 2011 to August 2012) |publisher=Cotswold Archaeology |page=7 |doi=10.5284/1055465 |date=December 2012}}
Prior to the establishment of the forest, the land had been used for sheep-grazing and as a military training area (large parts of which also became the RAF Fylingdales base in 1963). The only wooded areas were the steep sides of the gorge on either side of the River Derwent, which also forms the northern boundary of the forest on its western side.{{sfn|HoLF|1952|p=2}}{{cite map|title =North York Moors - Eastern area |map =OL27 |year = 2017|scale =1:25,000 |series =Explorer |publisher =Ordnance Survey |isbn =978-0-319-24266-7 }} The average height range of the forest cover is {{convert|224.3|m}}, with the lowest point being the River Derwent gorge ({{convert|200|ft|order=flip}}), to the highest at High Wood Howe, which is {{convert|950|ft|order=flip}}.{{sfn|HoLF|1952|p=5}}{{cite web |title=Langdale Forest, Scarborough - area information, map, walks and more |url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/langdale-forest-scarborough |website=getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk |access-date=29 November 2023}} Several streams within the forest are tributaries of the River Derwent.{{cite journal |last1=Mian |first1=Ishaq |last2=Begum |first2=Shaheen |last3=Riaz |first3=Muhammad |last4=Ridealgh |first4=Mike |last5=McClean |first5=Colin |last6=Cresser |first6=Malcolm |title=Spatial and temporal trends in nitrate concentrations in the River Derwent, North Yorkshire, and its need for NVZ status |journal=Science of the Total Environment |date=January 2010 |volume=408 |issue=4 |page=707 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.11.020|bibcode=2010ScTEn.408..702M }}
Langdale forms part of the North Riding Forest Park, which also includes the adjacent Dalby Forest (to the south-west) and nearby Cropton Forest.{{cite web |title=Dalby Forest |url=https://www.yorkshire.com/dalby-forest/ |website=yorkshire.com |access-date=30 November 2023}} All of these forests have suffered from illegal off-roading activities in the 21st century.{{cite news |title=North Yorkshire beauty spots damaged by illegal off-road vehicles |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65202676 |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=BBC News |date=6 April 2023}}
= May Moss =
May Moss is a peatland on the north-western edge of Langdale Forest that borders RAF Fylingdales to the north. The bog is believed to be 9,000 years old, and was included as part of the forest as spruce trees were planted there.{{cite news |title=Water levels measured at ancient North York Moors bog |url=https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/8620156.water-levels-measured-at-may-moss-in-langdale-forest-near-fylingdales/ |access-date=29 November 2023 |work=Gazette & Herald |date=5 November 2010 }} The bog covers an area of {{convert|150|ha}}, and in 2012, over 170,000 trees were removed from the bog area to prevent May Moss drying out as the trees root zones were taking the water.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1033297290}} |date=14 August 2012 |title=Removal of 170,000 trees helps restore fragile bog that's nearly 9,000 years old |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post }} The bog acts as a sponge during cloudbursts, preventing excess flooding on the River Derwent.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|335433233}} |last1=Branagan |first1=Mark |date=13 September 2009 |title=Expansion plan means moors won't be bogged down by floods |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post }} The peat restoration project included many partners and the site is registered as part of the peatland programme with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.{{cite web |title=May Moss {{!}} IUCN UK Peatland Programme |url=https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/projects/may-moss |website=IUCN Peatland Programme |access-date=6 December 2023}}
Scheduled monuments
File:Langdale Rigg End Trig Point - geograph.org.uk - 3127451.jpg
File:Uncultivated area near the edge of Langdale Forest - geograph.org.uk - 520827.jpg
The forest contains over 15 scheduled monuments, all listed with Historic England, being noted for their history dating back to the Bronze Age.
| class="wikitable"
|+Scheduled monuments within Langdale Forest !Name !Ref |
| Round barrow 610m south west of High Langdale End |
| Round barrow 430m SSW of High Langdale End
|{{NHLE|desc=Round barrow 430m SSW of High Langdale End |num=1019442 |grade=|access-date= }} |
| Round barrow 330m south west of High Langdale End
|{{NHLE|desc=Round barrow 330m south west of High Langdale End |num=1019444 |grade=|access-date= }} |
| Round barrow 280m south west of High Langdale End |
| Round barrow 450m west of High Langdale End |
| Round barrow on Maw Rigg, 1.6km south west of High Langdale End |
| Round barrow on Maw Rigg, 1.5km south west of High Langdale End |
| Round barrow 490m south west of High Langdale End |
| Maw Rigg cairnfield in Langdale Forest |
| Round barrow on Derwent Head Rigg, 145m east of High Woof Howe |
| Round barrow on Derwent Head Rigg, 200m east of High Woof Howe |
| Brecken Howe round barrow
|{{NHLE|desc=Brecken Howe round barrow |num=1019378 |grade=|access-date=5 December 2023 }} |
| Round barrow on Lun Rigg, 890m east of Brecken Howe |
| Low Woof Howe round barrow
|{{NHLE|desc=Low Woof Howe round barrow |num=1019374 |grade=|access-date=5 December 2023 }} |
| High Woof Howe round barrow at Derwent Head Rigg |
| Round cairn cemetery at High Greens 460m south east of Brecken Howe |
Recreation
In 1993, the Forestry Commission opened up over {{convert|30|mi}} of mountain bike trails within the forest.{{cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Harvey |last2=Webster |first2=Philip |title=Holidays with get up and go |work=The Times |issue=64547 |date=21 January 1993 |page=15|issn=0140-0460}} During the 1980s, Langdale and Wykeham Forest were used as part of a rallying course, with Finnish driver Hannu Mikkola crashing in Langdale Forest.{{cite news |title=Alen the master as leaders crash |work=The Daily Telegraph |issue=41,499 |date=25 November 1988 |page=26|issn=0307-1235}}
Wildlife
In 2012, £24,000 was spent on ecological improvements to the becks in the forest to provide a stable habitat for water voles.{{cite news |last1=Jeeves |first1=Paul |title=Water voles make a comeback as 'Ratty' is given a helping hand |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=21 May 2012 |page=8|issn=0963-1496}} Some conifers were felled and scrub was cleared to allow "suitable vegetation" to grow that the water voles favour.{{cite news |last1=McCandlish |first1=Sophie |title=The race to save water voles in the North York Moors National Park |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/country-and-farming/the-race-to-save-water-voles-in-the-north-york-moors-national-park-2855293 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=17 May 2020 }} Nightjars have established what has been described as a "Northern stronghold" in the forest, with over 70 males recorded in 2011.{{cite news |last1=Jeeves |first1=Paul |title=Nightjar returns to Northern woodlands |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=27 June 2011 |page=7|issn=0963-1496}} The bog area at May Moss is known to be host to common lizards and adders.{{cite news |last1=Beer |first1=Amy-Jane |title=Country diary: A boggy, untouched paradise for wildlife |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/23/country-diary-a-boggy-untouched-paradise-for-wildlife |access-date=6 December 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=23 May 2023}} Like other nearby forests, Langdale has a population of red and roe deer.{{sfn|Rylance|2022|p=14}}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{cite web |title=History of Langdale Forest 1934 - 1951 |date=1952|url=https://frwordpressmedia.blob.core.windows.net/staging/1952/06/fcfh037.pdf |website=frwordpressmedia.blob.core.windows.net |publisher=Forestry Commission |access-date=29 November 2023|ref={{harvid|HoLF|1952}} }}
- {{cite web |last1=Rylance |first1=N. |title=Langdale Forest Plan FP 15 2022 Yorkshire Forest District |url=https://www.forestryengland.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Langdale_FP_22_0.pdf |website=forestryengland.uk |date=2022|publisher=Forestry England |access-date=29 November 2023}}
External links
{{commons category|Langdale forest, North Yorkshire}}
{{Forests and woodlands of Yorkshire}}