Freeholders Wood

Freeholders Wood

The wood is named after a small group of local people from Carperby who have ancient rights of estovers in the wood.
This means they can gather firewood and coppice the trees.

Freeholders wood runs along the north side of the river Ure and the famous Aysgarth Waterfalls.
The wood may not be as old as the falls but it has been around for many hundreds of years.
For most of that time it has been farmed just like any other agricultural land.

New Life

Local people stopped coppicing the woodland more than 50 years ago.
The hazel stools began to rot and die from being shaded by taller trees. To preserve the woodland, the Yorkshire Dales bought the wood in 1982 and began coppice management again. An important piece of our past has been saved.

In between the hazel bushes, tall 'standard' trees were left to grow until they were big enough to be used to build barns or houses. This management system is called coppice with standards.

Lady of the woods

Coppice with Standards

Woodland like this was used as a renewable resource by local people.

Hazel, growing in the wood was regularly cut down to a low stump or stool. Instead of killing the tree, this caused it to sprout lots of useful stems or straight poles.

These could be harvested when they got to the size wanted.

Then the whole process called coppicing began again.

Freeholders' Wood provides an opportunity for a pleasant stroll.

The main path through the wood has a firm surface, making it suitable for all visitors, including those in pushchairs or wheelchairs.

Hazel trees in a carpet of wood Anemones

Freeholders Wood July 1927

The famous dales photographer JB Smithson and his family having a picnic in the wood.

• Aysgarth Edwardian Rock Garden
• YorkshireDales.org.uk