20 years of growth at Pasture Wood
March 7, 2025
20 years ago, your tree dedications and donations supported the planting of 5,500 trees to create Pasture Wood, a new native wood overlooking the town of Grassington. The trees have grown to become a thriving young woodland, with stunning views across Wharfedale.
Pasture Wood tree planting
Ongoing growth and increased biodiversity
Since planting began in 2004-2005 YDMT has continued to work with landowner Mark Kent to manage Pasture Wood. Around 5,000 tree guards have now been removed from established trees that can withstand browsing pressure.
Aerial view of Pasture Wood 2021
In 2019, a further 650 trees were planted by volunteers to replace those suffering from ash dieback, helping to increase species diversity.
‘’The woodland has taken quite a while to establish as the position is exposed and soil is poor but is now starting to feel like a real woodland,” reflected Mark. “We’ve seen a massive increase in biodiversity since planting the woodland. The sporadic planting and shelter provided by the trees has helped many plant species become established and with this a huge increase in insects, birds, and small mammals. We seem to have a healthy population of hedgehogs, and the presence of numerous barn owls suggests a large vole population.’’
A resilient, diverse woodland for the future
Pasture Wood will benefit from a new management plan starting in 2025 which will help identify where woodland management may be required to improve its ecological condition and ensure it continues to thrive in future.
Mike Appleton, YDMT’s Woodland Management Officer, said: “Pasture Wood will be a resilient, diverse woodland well into the future thanks to our volunteers who have planted trees and cleared plastic tree guards, as well as the dedication of the Kents.
Establishing a woodland here has been a slow process because of the site and its exposure, but when it matures it will complement those nearby and provide a vital wildlife corridor to Grassington and beyond.”
YDMT’s Woodland Management programme helps to enhance the patchwork mosaic of woodlands across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Nidderdale, and beyond, into parts of Cumbria and the Forest of Bowland. The programme launched in 2023 when there was little provision for smaller woodlands of less than 3 hectares. It supports landowners and communities to access woodland management services they would otherwise have to seek expensive specialist contractors for. Find out more about our Woodland Management work.
Pasture Wood Walk
You can discover Pasture Wood for yourself with our meadow and woodland walk guides…and enjoy the benefits of walking in this beautiful area for your health and wellbeing too.
