SOLD: Springfield Wood £98,000 Freehold
- Brafferton, Hambleton District, North Yorkshire
- just over 6 acres
- Northern England
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A glade with table and chairs
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View along the track at the southern boundary of the wood (wood to the right)
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The ride-stop entrance with space to park and stack logs
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Soft winter's snow on the hemlock bows, scope to make one's own Christmas Cards!
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Though the canopy of the wood is mostly pine, there is quite a mixture of tree species established
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Tall Corsican pine trees, well spaced
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Standing dead-wood is great habitat, this tree has woodpecker holes
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Wood sorrel
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A hearth with log seats
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Table and benches in a clearing
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Sunlight through the well-spaced pines
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Cleared path leading off between the trees
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This more open section has lots of young trees planted
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Herb Robert, part of the cranesbill family, visited by a Large White butterfly
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A bench, at the edge of the glade
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Crab apples along the track
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Woven edges help to define spaces and paths
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Honeysuckle reaching high into the canopy
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A young sapling tree, doing well
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Star moss tussock
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Area of new planting, close to the eastern boundary
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The grove of birches in the north east of the wood
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View south, across new planting
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The pond area with irises
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There are beautiful ferns throughout the wood
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Path through the ferns
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The main wood gate
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Description
Springfield Wood is part of a 200 acre forest, a Plantation on Ancient Woodland site (PAWs), planted with conifers in the second half of the 20th Century. The Corsican and Scots pines have grown well, straight and regularly spaced and up to about 25m tall. Many broadleaved trees grow beneath the pine canopy with lots of regeneration. The variety of key indicator species in the ground flora indicate that this area clearly has an ancient woodland heritage, (having grown here for over 400 years).
The ride-stop entrance, in the south-western corner of the wood, is approached along a good stone track and there is space to park a couple of vehicles here. Striking off on foot from this point, a path winding through the ferns will envelope the visitor with the scents and sounds of the forest; earthy fungus, pine needles, sweet honeysuckle flower, the breeze in the tree-tops, birdsong and buzzing of bees and hoverflies.
Beneath the tall Corsican and Scots pine, past hazels, holly, young oaks and the odd sycamore, the path emerges onto a clearing which would make an ideal base for woodland operations where there has been a firepit and some storage.
In this area, next to a maturing oak tree alongside a drain (usually dry in summertime), a rustic bench is situated where you can take in the surroundings, and you may notice that there is a different character area in the northern section beyond the drain. The spacings between the trees are greater here than in the southern part of the wood and this light has allowed bracken to grow, getting quite tall in summer then dying back completely in the autumn to leave a more open woodland floor, criss-crossed by animal tracks. Lots of young broadleaved trees have been planted and are doing well, making the most of the light.
Construction of a small storage shed has been started, behind which, in the north-eastern corner of Springfield Wood, there is a grove of birch dotted with ferns, the monochromatic bark and bright green foliage providing a contrast of colour and habitat to the mature conifers.
The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenantTrees
Scots pine, Corsican pine, oak, birch, alder, hazel, holly and crab apple.
Wildlife
Springfield wood is rich in wildlife, being part of a larger forest. With buzzards mewing overhead, tawny owls calling at most times of the year and other woodland birds such as blackbirds, robins, wrens and groups of tits always moving through the canopy, the place is a haven for birdwatching. Roe deer are also resident, bedding down at night in the leaf-litter amongst the bracken and ferns in the drier parts of the wood.
Features
- Mature trees with a high canopy.
- More open spaces.
- Bluebells.
- An area with a hearth, ideal for basecamp.
- Network of paths.
- Woodland pond with tadpoles in Spring.
Access, tracks and footpaths
A good stone track leads from the public highway to Springfield Wood. There is space to park a couple of vehicles within the wood at the ride-stop entrance and from here a trail of open paths connects different parts of the wood.
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
Springfield Wood could be managed for conservation and to enhance wildlife value. Perhaps carrying out selective thinning of some pine and replanting with native hardwood trees, expanding glades or management to restore the native flora, associated with an ancient woodland.
The wood would also suit occasional camping and family forestry– growing and enriching life as well as the forest, with family and friends, surrounded by nature. It’s also well suited to bushcraft activities being accessible on level ground with an abundance of firewood logs and kindling. The workshop is ideal for anyone who would like to practice green wood crafts within the wood, sheltered from the elements.
Local area and history
Springfield Wood is situated between Boroughbridge and the market town of Easingwold, the latter mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Eisicewalt" in the Bulford hundred. The market place was the site of an old toll booth and the base of the old market cross still exists next to what was the public hall, originally old rows of 'shambles' where butchers sold their wares. Records show that markets have been held in the town since 1221.
The Boroughbridge area is steeped in history. When the Romans settled the north of England they established a major centre at Aldborough, on the route of a long-distance road known as Dere Street. When the Normans conquered the same area some 1100 years later they changed the course of Dere Street to cross the River Ure at a more convenient spot. A settlement grew up around the bridge and this new settlement became the town of Boroughbridge, from the words 'borough on the bridge'.
To the west of Boroughbridge are the so-called Devil's Arrows; three huge prehistoric standing stones pointed the way north.
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 459 713
- Nearest post code: YO61 2SE
- GPS coordinates: 54.1357, -1.29771
Location map
Directions
Springfield 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 (Springfield 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 continue straight on then take the first track to the right. Walk along for a further 120 metres, the wood is located here, to the left of the track.
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 planted ancient woodland site with well spaced mature pine, ferns, honeysuckle, oak and birch: home to buzzards and a wealth of woodland wildlife.
