Elemore Woods

About the site

Elemore Woods lie on the Magnesian Limestone escarpment of County Durham. It is a large area of mixed woodland consisting of several distinct blocks surrounded by farmland.

The woods consist of conifers with intermittent blocks of broadleaf trees including ash, sycamore, beech and elm, with some oak. It is worth visiting the areas containing beech trees in the autumn as their leaves turn a fantastic, vibrant shade of orange before they fall to the ground.

The shrub layer is well developed in some parts of the woods, where hazel and holly form dense thickets. Hazel produces soft, cream coloured catkins in the spring that are commonly called ‘lamb’s tails’. Mature hazel shrubs also produce hazel (or cob) nuts in the autumn, which are an important food source for small mammals such as wood mice. Leaves at the top of holly bushes are often much less prickly than the ones lower down, and this is thought to be because the tree needs less protection at the top from grazing deer.

The ground flora is patchy but dog’s mercury and red campion occur here and there. Columbine can also be found growing under patches of scrub. Its vibrant bell shaped, violet flowers with bright yellow centres can be seen between May and June. Bees with specialised mouth-parts collect nectar from these flowers.

Woodland birds such as great spotted woodpecker, robin and wren are abundant throughout the wood.

Elemore Woods

Location

NZ 355 440

Facilities

Elemore woods are easily accessible with extensive public and permissive paths.

Enquiries

Woodland Trust
Autumn Park
Dysart Road
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6LL.
Tel: 01476 581111
Website: www.woodland-trust.org.uk