Snaizeholme
{{Short description|Valley in the Yorkshire Dales, England}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox valley
| name = Snaizeholme
| photo = Snaizeholme Beck (7085).jpg
| photo_caption = Snaizeholme Beck, looking southwards up the valley
| map = North Yorkshire
| map_image =
| map_caption =
| location = Wensleydale, North Yorkshire
| country = England
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| relief =
| label =
| label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|54.262|-2.269|display=inline, title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| elevation = {{convert|267.7|m|order=flip}}
| length = {{convert|3|mi}}
| length_orientation = North/south
| length_note =
| width =
| width_orientation =
| width_note =
| area = {{convert|561|ha|order=flip}}
| depth =
| depth_ft =
| depth_m =
| type = Glacial
| age =
| border =
| topo =
| traversed =
| river = Snaizeholme Beck
| footnotes =
| embed =
}}
Snaizeholme is a small side valley of Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (YDNP), North Yorkshire, England. The valley is noted for its red squirrel reserve, the only place within the North Yorkshire part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park where red squirrels are known to live, and a tree re-wilding project.
Along with Ribblehead further to the west, the upper slopes of Snaizeholme are known to be one of the wettest places within the YDNP. Rainfall on Snaizeholme Fell (at {{convert|579|m|order=flip}} is a mean average of {{convert|1,957|mm|order=flip|0}} per year.
History
It is thought that during the Anglian stage of glaciation, ice pushing south from the main Wensleydale stem, created the bowl shaped nature of the upper valley.{{cite book |last1=Waltham |first1=Tony |title=The Yorkshire Dales : landscape and geology |date=2007 |publisher=Crowood |location=Ramsbury |isbn=9781861269720 |page=71}} The amphitheatre nature of the valley is consistent with an ice-stream pushing southwards towards Grove Head and into Wharfedale.{{cite journal|last1=Clayton|first1=Keith M.|title=The origin of the landforms of the Malham area|date=1966|issue=3|volume=2|journal=Fields Studies Journal|location=Shrewsbury|publisher=FSC|issn=0428-304X|page=368}} The settlement of the Norse people in Wensleydale lent their language to the name of the valley; Sneis meaning twig led to the name being translated as the water-meadow with twigs.{{cite book |last1=Gunn |first1=Peter |title=The Yorkshire Dales : landscape with figures |date=1984 |publisher=Century Pub |location=London |isbn=0712603700 |page=64}} It was first recorded in 1280 as Snaysum or Snaysome, when the vaccary (a name for the cattle farms in upland regions of the Pennines) was listed as £6 per year ({{Inflation|UK|6|1280|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-3}}).{{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=267}}{{cite book |editor1-last=Brown |editor1-first=William |title=Yorkshire inquisitions of the reigns of Henry III and Edward I |date=1892 |publisher=Yorkshire Archaeological Society |location=Worksop |page=225|oclc=48697846}} In the seventeenth century, a survey listed the valley as being either Snaisholme or Snailsholme, which was in the township of Hawes with a population of nine, eight house, 30 outhouses and {{convert|268|acre}} of meadow lands.{{cite book |editor1-last=Willan |editor1-first=Thomas Stuart |editor2-last=Crossley |editor2-first=Ely Wilkinson |title=Three Seventeenth-Century Yorkshire Surveys |date=2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-1-108-05961-9 |pages=109. 119}} A directory from 1893 shows that most people (if not all) in the dale were farmers and their families.{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of N & E Ridings of Yorkshire, 1893 |date=1893 |publisher=Kellys Directories |location=London |page=101|oclc=1131686665}}
The valley is in a rough north/south direction, extending to {{convert|3|mi}} in length, and covering an area of {{convert|561|ha|order=flip}}.{{cite book |last1=Scholes |first1=Ron |title=Yorkshire Dales |date=2011 |publisher=Horizon Press |location=Ashbourne |isbn=9781843065081 |page=108}} Snaizeholme Beck drains the valley northwards into Widdale Beck, both tributaries of the River Ure. Snaizeholme Beck flows for {{convert|6.7|km|order=flip}} and drains an area of {{convert|1,131|ha|order=flip}}.{{cite web |title=Snaizeholme Beck from Source to Widdale Beck {{!}} Catchment Data Explorer {{!}} Catchment Data Explorer |url=https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB104027069350 |website=environment.data.gov.uk |access-date=24 April 2023}} The beck is fed by 21 streams, all of which total a complete length of {{convert|42|km|order=flip}}, and between 1970 and 2020, the average flow out of the beck into Widdale Beck is {{convert|0.2|m3/s|order=flip}}.{{cite web |title=Trends data |url=https://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/trends/27047 |website=nrfa.ceh.ac.uk |access-date=25 April 2023}} The valley extends from a low of {{convert|267.7|m|order=flip}} to the top of Snaizeholme Fell which is {{convert|1,793|ft}}.{{cite web |title=Snaizeholme Fell |url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/snaizeholme-fell-richmondshire |website=getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk |access-date=23 April 2023}}{{sfn|Lennie|2005|p=46}}
The valley was originally part of the Forest of Wensleydale; however, farming practices have left most of the valley without tree cover.{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=W. R. |title=The story of the Yorkshire Dales |date=1999 |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=9781860770883 |page=16}} In 2021, the woodland trust proposed a scheme which would involve planting birch, rowan, oak, willow and Scots Pine trees across {{convert|550|acre}} of land within Snaizeholme valley. At that time, less than 5% of the Yorkshire Dales had woodland cover, with only 1% consisting of ancient woodland, the type most beneficial to wildlife.{{cite news |last1=Halpin |first1=Danny |title=Conservationists set to begin creating England’s largest native woodland |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/woodland-trust-yorkshire-dales-england-woodland-b2320875.html |access-date=24 April 2023 |work=The Independent |date=16 April 2023}} The proposal was to encourage the squirrel habitat, but also to attract otters, kingfishers, herons and grey wagtails into the valley.{{cite news |last1=Rudgard |first1=Olivia |title=Reforesting sows seeds of red squirrel revival |work=The Daily Telegraph |issue=51,639 |date=26 May 2021 |page=8|issn=0307-1235}} The trees will enable carbon to be captured, and will slow the flow of water, therefore reducing the risk of flooding.{{cite news |title=Yorkshire Dales tree plan to recreate long-lost forest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65296931 |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=BBC News |date=17 April 2023}}
The planting of the first 100,000 saplings began in spring 2023, with a further £8 million needed to be raised to see the project through to a successful conclusion.{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Alexandra |title=Huge native woodland takes root near trail |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=17 April 2023 |page=7|issn=0963-1496}}{{cite news |title=The Times view on reforesting the Yorkshire Dales: Green Land |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/article/the-times-view-on-reforesting-the-yorkshire-dales-green-land-nj2lgxg57 |access-date=24 April 2023 |work=The Times |date=17 April 2023|url-access=subscription}} Besides the planting of trees, the project aims to restore {{convert|279|acre}} of blanket bog peatland, {{convert|247|acre}} of limestone pavement, and {{convert|191|acre}} of the open valley bottom.{{cite news |last1=Gleeson |first1=Janet |title=Planting uderway for huge woodland in Wensleydale |work=Darlington & Stockton Times |issue=2023-16 |date=21 April 2023 |page=6|issn=2516-5348}} The geography of the dale has been assessed as 13% woodland, 86% grassland, and 1% bog or heath.{{sfn|Marsh|Hannaford|2008|p=56}} The land is mostly carboniferous limestone, with shales and coal measures deeper down, and an isolated pocket of millstone grit to the south-east of the dale where it rises up to the peaks.{{cite book |last1=Dakyns |first1=J. R. |last2=Goodchild |first2=J. G. |last3=Fox-Strangways |first3=C. |title=The geology of the country around Ingleborough, with parts of Wensleydale and Wharfedale (Explanation of quarter-sheet 97 S.W., new series, sheet 50) |date=1890 |publisher=HMSO |location=London |page=69|oclc=941029534}}{{sfn|Marsh|Hannaford|2008|p=62}}
The road into the Snaizeholme stretches up from Widdale, but peters out in the middle of the valley, so the dale is only accessible by vehicle from the north.{{sfn|Lennie|2005|p=46}} On the high ground of the eastern side of the dale is the Cam Road, an old Roman Road that was once part of the Richmond to Lancaster Turnpike, and now forms part of the route of the route of the Pennine Way.{{cite map|title = Yorkshire Dales – Southern & Western Area|map = OL2|year =2016 |scale =1:25,000 |series =Explorer |publisher =Ordnance Survey |isbn =978-0-319-26331-0 }} The road through the valley was traditionally another route used by drovers out of Hawes and they would get to Cam Road between Dodd Fell (to the east) and Snaizeholme Fell, (to the west).{{cite book |last1=Bonser |first1=Kenneth J. |title=The drovers : who they were and how they went : an epic of the English countryside |date=1970 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0333103017 |page=164}} Even though the River Ure was part of the long border between the old county divisions of the West and North Ridings, Snaizeholme has always been in the either the North Riding or North Yorkshire.{{cite web |title=View map: Great Britain. Ordnance Survey, 34/88 – A (includes: Bainbridge; Buckden; Hawes; Horton in Ribblesdale) – Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps of Great Britain, 1945–1969 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/196183309 |website=maps.nls.uk |access-date=25 April 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Rhea |first1=Nicholas |title=River was the Ridings border |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/11356841.river-was-the-ridings-border/ |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times |date=22 July 2014}} Historically it was in the wapentake of Hang West in the parish of Aysgarth; it is now in the parish of Hawes.{{cite web |title=Snaizeholme :: Survey of English Place-Names |url=http://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/North+Riding+of+Yorkshire/Aysgarth/53286b09b47fc40bc6000057-Snaizeholme |website=epns.nottingham.ac.uk |access-date=25 April 2023}}
The annual ultramarathon The Fellsman, runs through the dale.{{cite web |title=Route Overview – The Fellsman |url=https://www.fellsman.org.uk/?page_id=20 |website=fellsman.org.uk |access-date=26 April 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Butcher |first1=Ellis |title=I ran the roof of the Yorkshire Dales and won! Sedbergh man's joy at race win |url=https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/10392250.i-ran-the-roof-of-the-yorkshire-dales-and-won-sedbergh-mans-joy-at-race-win/ |access-date=26 April 2023 |work=The Westmorland Gazette |date=1 May 2013}}
= Rainfall =
The dale is noted as being one of the wettest places within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, averaging between {{convert|1,771|mm|order=flip}} and {{convert|2,000|mm|order=flip}} of rainfall per year.{{sfn|Marsh|Hannaford|2008|p=54}} The mean average calculated between 1968 and 2012 was {{convert|1,957|mm|order=flip|0}}.{{cite journal |last1=Wheeler |first1=Dennis |title=Regional weather and climates of the British Isles – Part 4: North East England and Yorkshire |journal=Weather |date=July 2013 |volume=68 |issue=7 |page=186 |doi=10.1002/wea.2081}} Most of the water that falls on the western and northern side of Dodd Fell, drains down to the River Ure through Snaizeholme.{{sfn|Lennie|2005|p=44}} An extreme rainfall event in May 1959 sent floods down the valley into the River Ure, which trapped a man up to his waist in floodwater and washed away sheep and lambs.{{cite web |title=RIVER KENT AND SOUTH LAKES: A CHRONOLOGY OF FLASH FLOODING |url=https://www.jbatrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Cumbria-South-Lakes.pdf |website=jbatrust.org |access-date=25 April 2023 |page=69}}{{sfn|Lennie|2005|p=65}} Flooding also occurred on 31 January 1995, when Low Houses recorded rainfall of {{convert|136.8|mm|order=flip}} in 24 hours.{{cite book |last1=Marsh |first1=T. J. |title=Hydrological data United Kingdom : 1995 yearbook : an account of rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels and river water quality January to December 1995. |date=1996 |publisher=Institute of Hydrology |location=Wallingford |isbn=0-948540-78-8 |page=23}} In the floods of February 2020, the gauge at the lower end of the valley recorded a rainfall of {{convert|100|mm}} in 48 hours, which was 80% of the long-term average.{{cite web |title=Flood Investigation Report February 2020 |url=https://edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk/Data/Business%20and%20Environmental%20Services%20Corporate%20Director%20and%20Executive%20Members%20Meeting/20201127/Agenda/Section%2019%20Report%20on%20the%20February%20Flooding%20Events%20in%20the%20Aire%20Catch.pdf |website=northyorks.gov.uk |access-date=28 April 2023 |page=23}}
| class="wikitable"
|+Annual rainfall statistics for three weather stations in Snaizeholme !Year !Low House rainfall{{efn|Located at gridref SD832878, and at a height of {{convert|274|m|order=flip}}}} !Mirk Pot Farm rainfall{{efn|Located at gridref SD828870, and at a height of {{convert|312|m|order=flip}}}} !Top Snaizeholme rainfall{{efn|Located at gridref SD830834, and at a height of {{convert|579|m|order=flip}}}} !Ref |
| 1968
|{{convert|1,633|mm}} |{{convert|1,782|mm}} |{{convert|2,093|mm}} |
| 1973
|{{convert|1,161|mm}} |{{convert|1,352|mm}} |{{convert|1,589|mm}} |
| 1978
|{{convert|1,471|mm}} |{{convert|1,538|mm}} |(no data) |
| 1983
|{{convert|1,551|mm}} |(data spoiled) |{{convert|2,015|mm}} |
| 1988
|{{convert|1,985|mm}} |(no data) |{{convert|2,085|mm}} |
| 1993
|{{convert|1,823|mm}} |(no data) |(no data) |
| 1995
|{{convert|1,500|mm}} |(no data) |(no data) |
{{notelist}}
Red squirrel reserve
File:Red Squirrel - Flickr - cazalegg (3).jpg
The reserve for red squirrels at Snaizeholme (SD828863) is one of 17 dotted around Northern England,{{cite web |title=Go nuts for red squirrels in the Yorkshire Dales National Park |url=https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/09/YD072_Squirrel_leaflet_2022_ALL_V3.pdf |website=yorkshiredales.org.uk |access-date=23 April 2023}}{{cite web |title=Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail |url=https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/about/wildlife/places-to-see-wildlife/snaizeholme-red-squirrel-trail/ |website=yorkshiredales.org.uk |access-date=23 April 2023}} and is the only location within North Yorkshire part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park where squirrels are known to exist. The Cumbrian part of the YDNP is also home to red squirrels.{{cite news |last1=Greenbank |first1=Tony |title=Red squirrels and the people ensuring they keep a foothold in Yorkshire |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AA&page=3&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Snaizeholme%22&docref=news/1710E02F1C851DF0 |access-date=24 April 2023 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=19 January 2019|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=Red Squirrel |url=https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/about/wildlife/species/animals/mammals/red-squirrel/ |website=yorkshiredales.org.uk |access-date=24 April 2023}} The squirrels first arrived in the dale {{circa|2002}} (probably from Cumbria) as a result of a couple buying Mirk Pot Farm in 1967 and starting a Christmas tree plantation and other forestry schemes which enabled a good habitat for the squirrels.{{cite news |editor-last1=Charlton |editor-first1=Peter |title=Hugh Kemp – Forester (obituary) |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=21 January 2012 |page=12|issn=0963-1496}} The conservation and reserve status has been so successful, that red squirrels have been spotted in gardens in Hawes, the nearest town, and Bainbridge further down the valley.{{cite news |last1=Mitchinson |first1=James |title=Red squirrel refuge reopens after Storm Arwen toppled trees |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=3 January 2022 |page=6|issn=0963-1496}} The creation of new woodland, including deciduous trees, has also benefitted other wildlife, with bird species increased from thirty types to seventy, and water voles and pine martens spotted in the valley.{{cite news |last1=Mead |first1=Harry |title=The story of an exposed hill farm’s transformation into a wildlife sanctuary |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/2449446.the-story-of-an-exposed-hill-farms-transformation-into-a-wildlife-sanctuary/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times |date=19 September 2008}}
Access to the reserve is either a {{convert|10|mi|adj=on}} circular walk from Hawes, or being dropped off at the bottom of the wooded plantation by the Little White Bus (a small but dedicated bus service that serves the local community.{{cite news |last1=Somerville |first1=Christopher |title=Christopher Somerville Goes On The Trail Of Yorkshire's Red Squirrels |work=The Financial Times |date=5 September 2009 |page=35|issn=0307-1766}}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{cite book |last1=Lennie |first1=Stuart |title=The roof of Wensleydale: a portrait of Wensleydale's two thousand foot fells |date=2005 |publisher=Hayloft |location=Kirkby Stephen |isbn=1-904524-30-3}}
- {{cite book |editor1-last=Marsh |editor1-first=Terry |editor2-last=Hannaford |editor2-first=Jamie |title=UK hydrometric register : a catalogue of river flow gauging stations and observation wells and boreholes in the United Kingdom together with summary hydrometric and spatial statistics |date=2008 |publisher=Centre for Ecology and Hydrology |location=Wallingford |isbn=978-0-9557672-2-7}}
External links
- [https://www.littlewhitebus.co.uk/red-squirrels/ The Little White Bus details]
- [https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/appeals/snaizeholme/ Support Snaizeholme Woodland Trust webpage]
- [https://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/liveData/27047 Flow data for Snaizeholme Beck]
- [https://environment.data.gov.uk/water-quality/view/sampling-point/NE-49105195 Water quality data for Snaizeholme Beck]