SOLD: Demidales Wood £67,000 Freehold
- Brafferton, North Yorkshire
- nearly 3 ¾ acres
- Northern England
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An old hazel stool amongst sycamore and birch trees
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A large oak at the side of the grassy track
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There are mature oaks, pine and spruces between the stone track and watercourse
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Looking in from the northern boundary
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Looking up an old oak tree
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Ride-stop with the wood beyond
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Bench in a clearing
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An oak amongst the self-set birch.
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An area that has been thinned.
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Path in to the birch area
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The main wood gate
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A hazel coppice stool.
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Pathway amongst the birch poles.
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Beautiful buzzards feather, found on a bed of star moss
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View from the south western boundary
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Habitat piles amongst the thinned birch.
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Honeysuckle
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A spectacular fern
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Looking back towards the ride-stop
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A brash habitat pile.
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Sunlight filtering down to the woodland floor.
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One of the older oak trees.
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Description
Arriving at Demidales Wood, it is immediately apparent that the section of woodland between the stone track and a watercourse is quite mature. It’s hard not to be impressed by the stature of the oak trees here; they range from about 80 to possibly 200 years old. There are tall spruces around the ride-stop too, providing shade and evergreen cover.
Across the watercourse, the trees are younger. Conifers were felled here around 15 years ago and deciduous trees are regenerating, birch is doing very well and has been selectively thinned but there is also pussy willow, hazel, oak and sycamore with wild rose, masses of bluebells and foxgloves in the clearings. The wood is classed as a ‘Planted Ancient Woodland Site’ or PAWS which means this site has been wooded since 1600 (and probably much longer). We have a fascinating map from 1794 which shows the wood boundaries in almost the same shape as they are today.
All along the western boundary, there are old Corsican pine trees that border the field boundary with glimpsed views out across the pasture.
The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenantTrees
Oak, birch, hazel, spruce, Corsican pine, goat willow and sycamore.
Wildlife
The mature trees are perfect for tawny owls and buzzards who frequent these high perches to hunt along the track edges. Look out for owl pellets beneath the oaks and the boundary posts and listen for the ‘mew’ of the buzzards who are about most days.
Common woodland birds are long tailed, coal, blue and great tits along with chiff chaffs blackbirds and wrens.
Roe deer frequently pass through and like to make their beds in the bracken.
There is a great number of invertebrates too, the butterflies and bees are conspicuous amongst the wild flowers along the rides, paths and clearings but slightly more overlooked are the huge diversity of moths, hundreds of species have been recorded in the wider wood and some are rare in Yorkshire.
Features
The watercourse has water running in it for much of the year. There is a grassy track that runs alongside it full of wildflowers.
A little further into the wood, a bluebell and foxglove filled track crosses roughly north-south and a glade has been created, adjoining this, where a bench is ideally situated for soaking in the birdsong.
The western boundary adjoins pasture land and the clearings along this edge are a lovely place to watch wildlife and the sun go down.
Access, tracks and footpaths
The wood is reached via a good stone track and there is space to park a vehicle at the ride-stop entrance, off this track.
From the ride-stop, a path leads through the tall trees, across a footbridge and through the younger trees to the glade. Beyond this, the path continues on to the western boundary where there is a clear route running north-south to the other boundary lines.
Rights and covenants
The Internal Drainage Board have a right of access to the watercourse
The shooting and mineral rights are included in the sale
There are no public rights of way within the wood.
Activities
Demidales Wood would suit an owner looking for a project to keep them active, there is lots of scope to shape the future of the wood and the range of activities based there. With lots of pole wood, it would be great for family dens or a source of firewood or perhaps for woodcrafts.
It could equally be managed for conservation and to enhance wildlife value.
Local area and history
The previously mentioned historic map of the Manor of Brafferton shows all the old field names surrounding the wood. Just to the west of the wood, the fields on the higher ground near Thornton Bridge, are named Demidales, probably after its owner, and it is from this that the wood takes its name.
Brafferton village lies at an important strategic crossing point on the River Swale, the name means settlement on the Broad Ford.
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. 99
- Grid ref: SE 453 711
- Nearest post code: YO61 2SE
- GPS coordinates: 54.1346, -1.30768
Location map
Directions
Demidales Wood is just 20 miles from York, 15 miles from Ripon, 26 miles from Harrogate and 6 miles from Boroughbridge.
For Directions From Bing Maps CLICK HERE, enter your own postcode (wood entrance coordinates are already entered) and click on the blue "Go" box.
For Satnav; the postcode YO61 2SE is for the point shown by the red dot on the location map and coordinates are: N54:07:54 and W1:17:58
Or use our directions:
From the A1
- Exit the A1 at junction 48 and follow signs Ripon and Dishforth on to the A 6055
- At the next roundabout take the third exit on to Roecliffe Lane.
- Follow this road until you give way at a T junction and then turn left.
- Continue over the river and at the canal bridge roundabout take the second exit.
- Take the first right turn to Milby.
- Continue on this road until required to give way at a T junction and then turn right over Thornton bridge.
- Continue along this road into Brafferton and at the give way T junction turn left.
- Follow West Moor Road for about 1 mile until you reach the Woodlands for Sale sign on the left.
From York via the A19:-
- Just after the Easingwold roundabout take the left turn signed for Raskelf / Tholthorpe / Helperby
- Follow the road into Raskelf and at the cross roads in the centre of Raskelf turn right on to West Moor Road.
- Follow West Moor Road until you reach the Woodlands for Sale sign on your right.
Please park near to our gate but please do leave it clear for access.
- Climb the gate and walk along the access track for about 300 metres.
- Where the track forks, after the huts near the entrance, take the left fork and follow the main track round a right hand bend (*Shortcut available here for pedestrians - see below), continue straight on for about 150m
- Take the stoned track that is off to the left.
- After about 120m this stoned track turns left and Demidales is about 150m along here on your right, before the stoned surface ends.
- *There is a shortcut, if you are on foot, from the bend. Continue straight on, alongside the drain, on the grassy track and take the first turning to the right. Demidales Wood is about 100m along here on 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
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.
A tranquil woodland of mixed age, mainly native broadleaved trees including some wonderful old oaks and swathes of bluebells underfoot in Spring.
