SOLD: Clifford Moor Copse £89,000 Freehold
- Bramham, Wetherby, North Yorkshire
- just over 5 acres
- Northern England
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The wood has a high canopy and varied understorey
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A bench in a sunny glade
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Looking south along the track (Clifford Moor Copse to the right)
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The ride-stop entrance to Clifford Moor Copse
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View through the foliage of a white willow
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Sunny clearings are great for wildlife
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Sweetly scented honeysuckle
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A cherry tree growing in a clearer spot
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Amongst the area of oak plantation
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Shafts of sunlight and every shade of green
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A carpet of dog's mercury
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One of the hollows to the west of the wood
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Burdock flowers
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Giant bellflower, a native Campanula
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One of the large oak trees found in the wood
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Ancient coppiced field maple on the field boundary
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Looking along the ride with its rich ground flora
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Mature trees near the edge of the wood
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Vies across the farmland to the north west
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An orchid
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There is lots of coppiced hazel within the wood
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Birch amongst the other broadleaved trees
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Copper beech colours
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A mature Scots pine near the ride-stop
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A few areas are denser and small birds love these thickets
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Copper beech seedling
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Hummock of star moss
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Gate at Thorner Lane / Dalton Lane Bridlepath
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Description
Set in the north-eastern corner of West Woods Plantation, Bramham, Clifford Moor Copse is a very interesting and diverse broadleaf woodland. Trees of mixed ages and lots of ground flora ‘indicator’ plants give clues that this site has been wooded for a long time. It is classed as Replanted Ancient Woodland.
Up on the limestone ridge that sits above the Wharfe valley, the land in Clifford Moor Copse slopes very gently to the west. Good stone tracks lead to the ride-stop entrance surrounded by tall beech trees (one a copper beech), lots of coppiced hazel, oak, some hybrid poplar, birch, sycamore, the odd larch and a few Scots pine trees. There are also some ash trees which are in decline from ash die-back. These could potentially be harvested as a home firewood resource; ash makes brilliant firewood, or left as valuable standing deadwood habitat.
A path leads off to the right of the ride-stop, past birch and oak trees, and past a rustic bench situated with a view down a grass-filled glade. Following through this area, the way heads through the trees following deer trails, into an area of oak plantation, now around 30-40 years old. Alternatively keep to a route connecting the bright open spaces, until the band of trees towards the western edge of the wood is reached. Here, there’s a density of old coppiced hazel, overstood with oak and ash trees and the ground is carpeted with a rich tapestry of woodland flora including bluebells, wood anemone, dog’s mercury, wild garlic, native ferns, mosses, stitchwort and woodland grasses. Whilst higher up in the canopy wild rose and scented honeysuckle arch and scramble for sunlight in the shrub layer. In this area of the wood some old ponds are marked on the map. With the limestone soils being porous, these only hold water at the wettest times of the year when they will be a draw for wildlife.
At the western edge, where the wood meets farmland, a wide grassy ride runs south west to north east The ditch, the centre of which is the true boundary line, is flanked by characterful coppiced hedgerow trees such as hawthorn, field maple and hazels, with glimpses of the farmland beyond are framed by their trunks.
This is a lovely, secluded woodland, sheltered and private feeling.
The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenantTrees
Oak, beech, hazel, ash, poplar, Scots pine, hawthorn, larch, field maple, white willow and cherry.
Wildlife
With a rich ecology and secluded in nature, there is a great deal of wildlife to be found in Clifford Moor Copse. As soon as you arrive at the wood, inquisitive red kites swoop in to monitor your movements and buzzards never seem far away with their mewing calls. Wood pigeon, squawking jays, blackbirds, wrens and robins can be seen as well as Britain’s smallest bird, the goldcrest.
Hoofprints in soft mud reveal roe deer trails through the wood and it would be great to put up trail cameras to see what passes through when humans are not around.
Features
- A lovely mix of broadleaved trees including oak, birch and beech.
- Old areas of hazel coppice.
- Rich ground flora.
- Potential source of firewood.
- Private and sheltered.
Access, tracks and footpaths
A good route via solid stone tracks leads from the bridlepath gate on Thorner Lane (known as Dalton Lane) then east, through the forest to the entrance of Clifford Moor Copse.
Within the wood, a route links through grassy glades and most parts are accessible. The ground has a gentle slope to it. Sturdy footwear is always recommended.
Rights and covenants
There are no public rights of way within the wood.
The sporting rights are included in the sale.
Our standard covenant will apply.
Activities
Clifford Moor Copse would be ideal for owners interested in natural history and wildlife. It would be great to put up bird and bat boxes to enhance nesting and roosting habitat, and perhaps even make a hide for wildlife observation.
More active owners may like to manage out some of the ash trees and open up the canopy for regeneration. It would be beneficial for the wood, to re-establish a coppice cycle with the hazel, whilst harvesting some useful sticks and poles for garden and allotment projects.
Local area and history
West Park Plantation, of which the wood is part, sits on a high ridge of limestone, just to the north of Bramham Park and Hope Hall.
Bramham is a product of a grand tour; its creator Robert Benson, later Lord Bingley, completed his formal education with a grand tour in 1697, and whilst in Italy he began to envisage his new mansion in the Palladian manner complemented in a landscaped park, in the fashion made popular by Le Nôtre in France in the late 17th century.
The house and park is still privately owned by the family with Nick Fox-Lane the current custodian, the estate is best known for hosting Leeds Festival and Bramham Horse Trials. The wood, until recently, was part of the estate.
Wood maps
This wood is now sold, please do not visit the wood without the permission of the owner.
Find this wood
This wood is now sold, please do not visit the wood without the permission of the owner.
Location
- OS Landranger: OS No. 105
- Grid ref: SE 413 439
- Nearest post code: LS23 6LX
- GPS coordinates: 53.8905, -1.3722
Location map
Directions
Just 11 miles from Leeds, 15 miles from Harrogate and 20 miles from York.
The wood is located west of the A1(M) between junctions 44 and 45.
Please park in the layby opposite the Dalton Lane bridlepath gate. Map pin here. Please avoid parking in front of the gate itself. The owner of the wood will have a key to the gate but for viewings it is a walk of about half an hour each way.
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Travel parallel with the A1(M) south from junction 45 and north from junction 44 signed to Bramham and turn west on to Thorner Road sign posted for Whetherby, Boston Spa and Thorner.
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After just less than a mile at the sharp left bend keep right on to Thorner Lane.
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After a third of a mile pass the first woodland entrance on the right and proceed for a further 200metres before parking in the layby on the left. (map pin above)
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Cross the road and walk through the entrance way on to Dalton Lane Bridleway and continue for about 800 metres before turning right on to a stone track. Follow this track bending around to the left after about 700 metres.
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After a further 300 metres turn right on to another hard surfaced track and continue approximately 200 metres to a left turn.
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Clifford Moor Copse is located 100 metres down this track and to the left.
How we support our buyers
Membership of the small woodland owners’ group
£300 for a woodland course of your choice
One year's free membership of the royal forestry society
Please note this wood is owned by woodlands.co.uk.
Our regional managers are often out working in our woodlands, so if you email an offer and want to be sure it has been received, please phone our manager on their mobile phone. The first offer at the stated price which is accepted, whether by phone or email, has priority.
Please take care when viewing as the great outdoors can contain unexpected hazards and woodlands are no exception. You should exercise common sense and caution, such as wearing appropriate footwear and avoiding visiting during high winds.
These particulars are for guidance only and, though believed to be correct, do not form part of any contract. Woodland Investment Management Ltd hereby give notice under section 21 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 of their interest in the land being sold.
A beautiful and diverse broadleaf woodland, with a rich mix of plants and wildlife, close to Bramham, near Wetherby and Leeds.
