Get Walking With The Woodland Trust This Winter

- TV star Julia Bradbury backs our top free woodland walks

TV presenter Julia Bradbury says invigorating woodland walks have helped her cope with ongoing treatment for breast cancer.

Julia, who has presented both BBC’s

Countryfile and Britain’s Best

Walks, is an avid walker and has revealed some of her favourite free Woodland Trust’s woods for a winter stroll. her love of the outdoors and made her even more aware of the healing power of nature.

“Although my treatment has left me feeling fragile, I’ve been trying to get outside every day and build up my steps,” Julia said.

“There’s nothing like a walk, through beautiful trees, to boost your physical and mental well-being.

Breathing in pure air and surrounding myself with nature is good for the soul and a welcome distraction from what I’m going through at the moment.”

The Woodland Trust has more than 1,000 woods across the UK, all free to visit and open every day.

You can locate your nearest woodland escape easily - just enter your postcode at woodlandtrust.org. uk/findawood or take a look at Julia and the Trust’s pick of the best winter walks from around the UK.

Photo Credit: Woodland Trust / Nick Spurling

are really looking forward to getting together with friends and loved ones. I’d urge everyone to plan a trip to their nearest woodlands for some fresh air and to spend some time together in nature, whatever the weather.

“Woods are real winter wonderlands – whether it’s a crisp, frosty morning or soggy afternoon, it’s great to take in the oxygen and embrace the chilly weather. outdoor adventure; my top Woodland Trust walks are ideal places to burn off those extra mince pies!”

In winter, woods take on a whole new character. Spectacular, frosty landscapes and bare branches expose elusive wildlife and hidden history. And what’s more, all Woodland Trust woods are free to enter.

After a day of indulgence, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree on repeat and the children arguing about the PlayStation, Boxing Day is a great time to escape outdoors – and where better than the UK’s glorious woods?

The Woodland Trust has more than 1,000 woods which are free to enter and open all year round so come prepared for nature in its natural state. This means no toilets, cafés, bins or cleaning staff - just unmissable views, clean air, birdsong and woodland paths for you to wander along to your heart’s content.

Embrace nature and enjoy but also back our Love Your Woods campaign by playing your part and protecting woods and nature for the future with these top tips for your visit.

• Stay on the paths • Take dog mess and litter home with you • Protect wildlife by keeping dogs close • Stay fire free • Leave sleepovers to the wildlife • Be considerate with den building • Park with consideration for others • Swimming is for wildlife only • Woods aren’t good for rock climbing which destroys precious habitats • Check access rules before cycling

So, dig out your wellies and woollies say goodbye to some of those extra Christmas calories and pay one - or more - of the following woods a visit: 

SOUTH EAST NORTHERN IRELAND

Hucking Estate – Kent Breathtaking views of the Kent Downs, ancient woodland to explore and swathes of open grassland where the kids can run off steam make Hucking a must-visit in the south east. Hucking Estate is full of archaeological features, even the pond is a former iron-working site. You might spot medieval wood banks or some of the chalk pits where the chalk was mined to fertilise fields.

Penn Wood – Buckinghamshire Historic Penn Wood lies in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so it’s worth a visit any time of the year. Wolves and wild boar once roamed through the trees, but these days you’re best off trying to spot red kites, buzzards and tawny owls.

Hainault Forest – London Herds of majestic red deer roam this ancient hunting forest, which once provided venison for the King’s table, and its just 15 miles from central London. With 158 species of bird recorded, it’s a bird-lover’s dream. Carnmoney Hill

With awe-inspiring views of Belfast and the coast, Carnmoney Hill is a must visit. Steeped in history and folklore with a mix of ancient woodland, grassland and wetland, it is home to a wealth of wildlife and has a wide range of walks to suit all abilities. With easy access from the city and plenty of interest for history buffs, Carnmoney Hill is a great destination for a day out.

SCOTLAND

Crinan Wood, Argyll and Bute, Scotland With sweeping vistas across Loch Crinan to Duntrune Castle and the Argyll coastline, there are few woods with a more breathtaking outlook than Crinan Wood. This ancient Atlantic oakwood is a wonderful example of Scotland’s rare and special rainforest and is brimming with wildlife, including the iconic red squirrel. It’s definitely one of our must-see gems. CENTRAL

Tring Park - Hertfordshire A 10-minute stroll from Tring’s famous Natural History Museum, there are lots of hidden treasures to find at Tring Park. Climb the hill for amazing views of Hertfordshire and the Chilterns.

Swineshead & Spanoak Woods – Kimbolton, Bedfordshire Rich and diverse woodland that’s part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Green and great spotted woodpecker have both been recorded in the wood as has the crossbill, which was first recorded breeding in the wood in 1991.

Tyrrels Wood – Pulham Market, Norfolk Quiet and off the beaten track, Tyrrels Wood is a welcome spot for visitors and wildlife alike with a circular route winding past big veteran oak trees, hazel, ash, field maple birch and rowan.

WALES

Wentwood Forest Once part of the hunting grounds of Chepstow Castle, Wentwood offers walks with breathtaking views over the Severn Estuary. Its diversity of habitats means it is home to some wonderful wildlife. Make sure to visit the ancient Curley Oak while you’re there!

SOUTH WEST

Credenhill Park Credenhill, Herefordshire Credenhill Park Wood is a local landmark on an imposing wooded hill, topped by one of the largest Iron Age Hill forts in England and thought to have once been an Iron Age tribal capital.

The walk to the top, where you can revel in views to Wales, is well worth it and when trees are bare you’re more likely to spot woodpeckers tapping the trees.

Avon Valley Woods, Devon A hidden treasure in the rolling hills of South Hams, the Avon Valley Woods cluster along the valley side. Winter is a great time to spot a whole range of finches, blue tits and long tailed and great tits that tend to flock in large groups at this time of year. While the riverside walk can be muddy, the extensive path network at the top of the site offers grassy tracks and views across Devon.

NORTH

Hedley Hall, Sunniside in the North East A mix of ancient woodland cloaking the slopes of the narrow Ridley Gill, and newer broadleaf planting, Hedley Hall has plenty to keep walkers amused, including babbling streams, birds and woodland sculptures, all within a stone’s throw of the famous Beamish museum.

Nidd Gorge, North Yorkshire Ancient broadleaf woodland covers the steep cliffs and slopes of Yorkshire’s Nidd Gorge, which is home to more than 80 species of bird and 30 different kinds of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Take a stroll through the crisp winter wonderland and keep your eye out for roe deer, tawny owls, herons and woodpeckers.

Hackfall – Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire Set in a 350ft gorge along the River Ure on the edge of the village of Grewelthorpe this fragile ancient woodland habitat has been restored since the Woodland Trust took over. Stroll along footpaths and woodland walks and spot grottos and glades, temples and waterfalls as well as kingfisher, dipper and grey wagtail.

Love Your Woods is part of The Woodland Trust’s ‘People and woods: getting better together’, funded by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’sLength Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK with more than 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a UK rich in native woods and trees for people and wildlife.

The Trust has three key aims: • protect ancient woodland, which is rare, unique and irreplaceable • restoration of damaged ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of our natural history back to life

• establish native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 29,000 hectares. Access to its woods is free so everyone can benefit from woods and trees.

SEDBERGH

By Megha Seth

Have you ever thought of escaping to a quiet, isolated, and serene place? While such places are usually associated with introverts, there are far too many people who crave solitude and peace to escape their frantic daily routines. Life is a stressful affair and that makes peace even more beautiful.

Situated amidst the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Sedbergh, England’s book town, provides you the space to breathe. Sedbergh (pronounced as Sed-Ber) is a contemporary combination of ancient freshness. Its historic places and charisma perfectly complement the new-age cafés and modern bistros.

The town, popular for its independent school and book stores, harbours an enticing portion of the rolling hills, and a vast open land that is no less than a walker’s paradise. www.lancmag.com

It’s a jovial destination, despite having a scanty population. And being one of Britain’s only 3 book towns, it overflows with bookshops and poet festivals. Located centrally at the base of the magnificent Howgill Fells, the town is a perfect stay if you wish to explore both the Dales and the Lake District.

If history textbooks were your favourite pastime, let me tell you Sedbergh has a noticeable mention in the Doomsday Book. This attractive small town has been thriving since the 13th century. It emerged at the junction of four rivers, which were also noteworthy trade routes in ancient times.

There is history in every nook and corner of this town, from the streets to the houses. Certain hallmarks are still suggestive of the woollen and knitting trades that made this town a lucrative marketplace.

St Andrews Church

Sedbergh is an ideal visit at any time of the year. You’ll be amazed about the places you can check out and the activities you can do in this hidden gem of a place. Here are some mustvisit places that you can’t miss when in Sedbergh: History of Sedbergh:

1. The Castlehaw

Are you a fan of historic after-war remains? If yes, you should definitely visit Castlehaw, which is also a local landmark. It appears as a small grassy hill to the normal eye. But when looked at closely enough, one can see the remains of a small bailey and motte castle. The 30 feet high motte is circumscribed by a ditch except at the south. This motte was built to look out for air raids during World War II.

2. Farfield Mill

If you are all about art, the Farfield Mill is a must-visit for you. Being the most important industrial site of the town, The Farfield Mill is one and the only working mill of the 5 historic mills in Sedbergh.

It is available for exploration throughout the year and consists of four floors of inspiration. Visitors can enjoy the cultural displays, witness the working of the looms, art demonstrations, and exhibitions. The mill is also one of the UK’s top venues for textile art, still practiced by 20 resident artisans. The exhibitions undergo frequent change and also include eye-catching threedimensional paintings.

3. The Sedbergh Golf Club:

The Sedbergh Golf Club is definitely one of Cumbria’s hidden treasures. The 5584-yard land is probably going to be one of the toughest and the most scenic clubs you would’ve played on. Even though it’s not the longest, it has been built in such a manner so as to take full advantage of the natural landscape. This has also placed accuracy above distance as the deciding factor of your excellence as a player.

Apart from this, The Holme Farm, which is home to rare animal breeds is also worth a stroll. The local bookstores, walk trails, waterfalls, cafés, pubs, and restaurants certainly ensure entertainment in this faintly populated town.

Farfield Mill

1. Stroll Around

Sedbergh fairly upholds its reputation as a walker’s paradise. The Sedbergh circular walk is a lowland route that takes you on a stroll along the River Rawthey. You get to experience the beauty of the fells and the River Dee before you turn back to the town again. The Howgill Fells are one of the most picturesque walks of the town. This walk is so peaceful and divine that you wouldn’t recognize hours passing away in the blink of an eye. The town is flooded with numerous breathtaking waterfalls, which literally take your breath away on a clear day. The black Force, the Cautley Spout which is also England’s largest waterfall above the ground and The Black Horse are the major ones.

2. Have Fun Cycling

Sedbergh is a superb choice for those of you who have the explorer bug. Bikes prove to be an excellent vehicle for travellers to wander round and about the town. The market area is the meeting point of various routes, including one of the most difficult mountain bike trails in the UK. The town is brimming with quiet and picturesque lanes, some easy to motor on, some difficult. But easy or not, Sedbergh is the perfect destination for your cycling adventures.

3. Hunt for Your Favourite Books

Someone has rightly said, “Sedbergh is the treasure trove of second hand and collector’s books”.

Being a home to innumerable publishing houses and specialty bookstores, Sedbergh is acclaimed as “England’s Book Town” making it the perfect stop for the bookworm in you. Westwoods Books is Yorkshire’s largest bookstore with over 70000 books in stock. The cafés and pubs in this Cumbrian town also stock books! Don’t you think that’s peculiar? Well, why else do you think it is called a book town?

FOOD AND DRINKS

From little pubs to fancy restaurants, Sedbergh has it all. From tea to freshly baked pizzas, there’s nothing you don’t find here. There are great varieties of vegetarian foods and fish. It mainly comprises local ingredients mixed around in innovative ways and priced sensibly.

The food tastes so homely and heavenly at the same time, that it’s always welcome after a day spent wandering the beautiful streets of Sedbergh. The cafés here are one of a kind and offer warmth to travellers. The traditional family-owned pubs are worth a visit and offer well-brewed local wines and a lovely ambiance in addition to log fires.

Ultimately, the main advantage of staying in this little town is getting to see the remarkable Yorkshire Dales while also being awfully close to the Lake District. The outdoor activities, ancient locations, and homely food attract a large number of tourists every year.

And lastly, while there are certainly times when you can enjoy adrenalinefilled holidays, there are also times when you just want to cut off from the hubbub and just relax and soothe your soul.

Instead of frantically searching for some peace and quiet in big cities, head to Sedbergh for your next escape. The tranquil environment, isolated location, and picturesque destinations surely make Sedbergh a place you wouldn’t want to miss out on!