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| *****SWAAG_ID***** | 424 |
| Date Entered | 08/01/2012 |
| Updated on | 08/01/2012 |
| Recorded by | Tim Laurie |
| Category | Tree Site Record |
| Record Type | Botanical HER |
| Site Access | Private |
| Record Date | 04/10/2010 |
| Location | Kexwith Beck. East Bank Scar Part 2 |
| Civil Parish | New Forest |
| Brit. National Grid | NZ 05440 05633 |
| Altitude | 375m |
| Geology | Sheer cliff formed by the Main Limestone with landslip and scree below. |
| Record Name | Kexwith Beck.Relict woodland with yews on East Bank Scar Part 2 |
| Record Description | As mentioned on the previous Part One of this Woodland Site Record, the photographs used were taken underdull conditions and have not reflected the landscape quality of this fine cliff to advantage.
Accordingly this series of photographs is intended to provide a more aequate photographic record of the woodland on this cliff.
The photographs are presented in sequence as: 1.of the whole cliff, 2. the northern Section, 3. the central section and 4. the southern section.
Text all as for part One:
This west facing well vegetated limestone scar extends for a distance of approximately 250m southward from the drystone wall which marks the upper limit of the walled pastures of Kexwith Farm. The woodland includes a number of very large and ancient yews which are alive and in good health. Of particular interest are the skeletal petrified remains of yews, long since dead which also survive both as remnants on the cliff face and as fallen trees on the scree below. These remains provide the opportunity for tree ring samples and counting, see photos.
Other trees present include wych elms (mostly dead but with some regeneration with young saplings springing from from old stumps, and several large ash trees on the cliff. Surprisingly, hazel, holly and bird cherry are absent - perhaps reflecting the exposure and altitude of this cliff. |
| Dimensions | Approximately 250 m |
| Geographical area | Swaledale North Bank Catchment |
| Additional Notes | Whereas the photographs on previous Record 423 were all taken on a dull day, the photos below were taken on a fine october day and fairly reflect the real scenic value of this fine cliff. Please see the previous record for details and dimensions of the ancient yews! The high east facing cliff above the opposite, west bank of Kexwith Beck to be recorded separately.
The tree ring sections photographed, see Record 423, were taken from fallen dead branch material below the northern and southern sections of the cliff. They show growth rates which vary from of 1.0-2.5 rings per mm. It should be remembered however that these yew samples are from yews which enjoyed a modicum of shelter on the face of the cliff. Tree ring sections from the most exposed yews at the top edge would show a slower rate of growth.
Several of the multistemmed yews exceed 1m in diameter and th abe of these yews will be very great.
Our grateful thanks are extended to Mr R. Ridley of Kexwith Farm for permission to access and record the trees at Kexwith Beck Scars. |
| Image 1 ID | 1994 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 1 Description | Kexwith Beck. East Bank Scar. Limestone woodland with yews an wych elm. |  |
| Image 2 ID | 1995 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 2 Description | |  |
| Image 3 ID | 1996 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 3 Description | |  |
| Image 4 ID | 1997 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 4 Description | Kexwith Beck. East Bank Scar. The northern section with several yews, including at least one exceptionally large yew with exposed root system, and wych elm, alive and skeletal remains of dead elms from the Dutch Elm Disease. |  |
| Image 5 ID | 1998 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 5 Description | |  |
| Image 6 ID | 1999 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 6 Description | |  |
| Image 7 ID | 2000 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 7 Description | |  |
| Image 8 ID | 2001 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 8 Description | Kexwith Beck. East Bank Scar. The Central section with many fine yews, including one very large yew and the petrified remains of cliff yews long dead. |  |
| Image 9 ID | 2002 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 9 Description | |  |
| Image 10 ID | 2003 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 10 Description | |  |
| Image 11 ID | 2004 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 11 Description | |  |
| Image 12 ID | 2005 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 12 Description | Kexwith Beck Scar. East bank, Southern section with cliff yews alive and dead. |  |
| Image 13 ID | 2006 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 13 Description | |  |
| Image 14 ID | 2007 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 14 Description | Skeletal remains of a fallen yew with remnant of an even older fallen burred wych elm caught in the fork |  |
| Image 15 ID | 2008 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 15 Description | |  |
| Image 16 ID | 2009 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 16 Description | |  |
| Image 17 ID | 2010 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 17 Description | |  |
