At first glance Pennsey Wood would seem to consist mainly of widely spaced mature deciduous larch, but a closer look reveals a delightful diversity and real abundance of other tree species. Throughout the wood the maturing larch have been underplanted with sweet chestnut trees that are flourishing, now 10 to 15 years old. Set among the chestnuts are rowan, elder, holly, beech, birch, hawthorn, aspen and oak. These young trees provide the wood with shelter and privacy, especially when in leaf, not to mention valuable berries for birds in Autumn.

This wonderful variety of trees and planting is at an ideal time of its growth for sympathetic thinning of the mature larch to be undertaken, to allow the native deciduous trees to assert themselves and take over the space created. A very useful supply of domestic firewood could be sourced from this selective process, as well as contributing to the management of the woodland to encourage the increasing bio-diversity.

Interestingly a number of yew trees have also established themselves, probably as the result of ingested seeds, deposited by birds, as has the occasional wych elm. A narrow band of Scots pine bounds the north western edge and honeysuckle winds through young trees sculpting branches into twisted shapes and giving a wonderful scent when in flower.

The wood is a haven for birds too: tree creepers are attracted to the insect life that shelters in the large trunks of the conifers. Small feeding flocks of birds flit through the under storey, buzzards regularly glide through the tree tops, shy jays feed in the wood and woodcock, blending into the bracken, whirr out from underfoot. The wood is also home to the iconic red squirrel and may be glimpsed by the lucky observer.

A good access track into the woods takes you to a sheltered and secluded glade with a bench. The glade is surrounded by tree covered banks. Wood sorrel, wood avens, male fern, foxgloves and wood rush all thrive here. Plants found in Pennsey Wood indicate it has been woodland for many years and is termed a Plantation on an Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). The wood was cleared and replanted with larch and Scots pine in the 1960s.

Access by rail

Perfectly located for those wishing to visit their woods by train, Brampton Station is just 17 minutes from Carlisle and a little over an hour from Newcastle. Trains by Northern Rail.

The Area

The old Brampton railway line is now a footpath named the Dandy which runs through a cutting on the north-eastern boundary of the wood. Pennsey Wood is a short and pleasant walk from the railway station. The line was built in the late 1800's by Lord Carlisle to transport coal and stone from the moors of Alston to Brampton. It is famous as the line that Stephenson's Rocket came to work after it was retired from service in Lancashire.

Pennsey wood is also within walking distance of the market town of Brampton. In the wider area is the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and there are plenty of B+Bs locally.

The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant