Woodland

Redmire is not a particularly well wooded parish, probably due to the appetite of 19th century lead smelting mills for fuel. Most wooded areas are thin ribbons, either bounding streams or the River Ure, or are planted. The churchyard provides a small wooded area and remnants of the old wood pasture survive in places. The dominant tree is Ash, Fraxinus excelsior. Unfortunately, this species suffers from Ash dieback disease. Smaller dominant trees are Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, and Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa. Sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus, was introduced into England by 1500 and is now naturalised. It is often used as a windbreak around farms. There are mature ornamental varieties of Sycamore on Redmire village green. The area is natural woodland, but regeneration is inhibited by sheep grazing and silage cutting. However, tree planting has increased in recent years and there appears to have been a reduction in grazing, particularly on moorland.

Trees support a significant population of invertebrates, lichens and mosses, as well as nesting and perching sites for birds.

Slide 1: West Wood. A mixed woodland, mainly planted but well established. October.

Slide 2: Planted woodland close to the River Ure. Probably the site of older woodland with Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta. April

Slide 3: Narrow strip of woodland bounding Apedale Beck, Hargill. Redmire. May

Slide 4: Ash tree, Fraxinus excelsior, in autumn colour. Near Apedale Beck, Hargill. Redmire. October.

Slide 5: Sycamore plantion, Acer pseudoplatanus. West Wood. May.

Slide 6: Alder, Alnus glutinosa, besides a small beck. Alder is typical of wet places alongside water courses. May.

Slide 7: Alder, Alnus glutinosa and Gorse, Ulex europaeus, along River Ure, Redmire. December.