Roeburndale Woods

Also within

Lancashire County Forest Of Bowland Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Mudstone, Sandstone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area,41.7 hectares 103.0 ac Description The extensive woodlands of the Roeburn gorge lie south of the village of Wray in the Lune valley. They contain the best examples of the range of northern deciduous woodland types characteristic of the River Lune and its tributaries draining the north side of the Bowland Fells. These nationally important woods lie mainly on the steep east side of the gorge but extend in places onto the plateau above. They are ungrazed by farm stock, have been little altered by conifer planting, are believed to be an ancient woodland site and constitute one of the largest areas of broad leaved woodland in the county. The Carboniferous sandstone, mudstone and calcareous shales of the Bowland Series give rise to a wide range of soils from acidic podzols to the very basic brown earths which is reflected in the range of woodland types. The most extensive of these is the upland sessile oak wood with a characteristic ground flora including wavy hair grass, bilberry and heath mosses in the most acid locations such ason the sandstone outcrops of Hill Kirks Scar, but dominated by ferns on the gentler slopes of Outhwaite Wood where a high proportion of birch occurs in many places. The basic soils of Hill Kirks Wood support western valley ash wych elm wood with a characteristic ground flora including dog’s mercury, wood brome and ramsons. Between this and Outhwaite Wood and downstream in Alcocks Wood, areas of more intermediate soils support acid sessile oak hazel ash woods. The lines of streams are marked by narrow strips of valley alder wood and this expands to occupy Bowskill Wood End and Pasture Wood at the upstream end of the SSSI. On the flood plain below Outhwaite Wood is a small area of bird cherry alder wood. small leaved lime occurs at scattered locations including some fine trees in Bowskill Wood. Other plants of interest include a colony of the rare grasswood fescue Festuca altissima and the rare moss Rhytidiadelphus sub pinnatus. Red squirrels, a protected species, are resident in the wood.

Species mentioned

Plant communities