Westlaw Wood

About the Site

Westlaw Wood is an ancient woodland site that was mostly felled in 1983. Several mature trees still remain in this 2.9 hectare wood but much of the canopy now consists of regeneration arising from old tree stumps, seedlings produced by the few remaining mature trees and some planting.

The main tree species in Westlaw Wood are oak, ash, birch, wild cherry and sycamore with an understorey of hazel, guelder rose and hawthorn. Silver birch trees can be recognised by their silvery white bark and purple tinged branches, particularly during winter.

Visit the wood in the spring to see a display of wild cherry blossom and soft cream coloured ‘lamb’s tail’ catkins of hazel. Mature hazel shrubs also produce hazel (or cob) nuts in the autumn that, together with the bright red berries of guelder rose and hawthorn, provide an important food source for small mammals such as wood mice.

The ground flora in this regenerating woodland is rich in places, many of the plants are remnants of the ancient woodland, such as wood sorrel and wood anemone. The leaves of wood sorrel may easily be mistaken for those of clover but with closer inspection around Easter time its delicate, veined white flowers can be seen.

Westlaw Wood

Location

Take the A694 north out of Consett, towards Newlands and Ebchester. Westlaw Wood is on your left just before the village of East Law.

Grid reference: NZ 096543

Facilities

None.

Enquiries

Woodland Trust
Autumn Park
Dysart Road
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6LL
Tel: 01476 581111