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Viewing swaag.org website implies consent to set cookies on your computer. Full details Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1155775
SWAAG Honorary President:
Tim Laurie F,S,A,

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 *****SWAAG_ID***** 516
 Date Entered 06/05/2012
 Updated on 07/05/2012
 Recorded by Tim Laurie
 Category Tree Site Record
 Record Type Botanical HER
 SWAAG Site Applegarth
 Site Access Private
 Record Date 05/05/2012
 Location Whitcliffe Woods East. Old Quarries Site
 Civil Parish Richmond
 Brit. National Grid Hidden
 Altitude 251m
 Geology Transect of the Upper Dale Side with Richmond Chert strata visible in the old quarry cut into the upper cliff and The Main Limestone visible as a sheer lower cliff.
 Record Name Whitcliffe Woods East. Native coppiced woodland at and around the old quarry site.
 Record Description Native woodland with coppiced oak (Qu. robur),wych elm, ?cloned population of twenty large leafed lime trees, ash, very large pollarded beech, holly and hazel. There is a small area of ancient yew-dominant woodland with several yew trees of great dimensions, including at least one yew tree estimated to be in excess of 7m girth. These trees are virtually inaccessible on the limestone cliff. The cliff yew trees all have spectacular exposed root systems which denote extensive destabilisation and erosion of the rock face by the tree roots. Yew trees within the woodland are generally not very large and of younger age. The field layer includes small open glades with species rich calcareous grassland with rock rose, thyme,etc on the top edge of the cliffs and, in the woodland, dogs mercury, primrose, bluebells, toothwort (Lathraea sqamaria), dog violet,enchanters nightshade etc. The coppiced trees are of different age with very large specimens and modest trees in all species present. The very largest trees are on the cliffs and these trees may be of great age. Wycliffe Wood clearly provided a renewable resource of growing timber and firewood and employment to those Richmond Citizens entitled to remove it.
 Geographical area Lower Swaledale
 Image 1 ID 2812         Click image to enlarge
 Image 1 Description Whitcliffe Woods East. View westward.
 Image 2 ID 2813         Click image to enlarge
 Image 2 Description THe parasitic toothwort below large leafed lime trees.
 Image 3 ID 2814         Click image to enlarge
 Image 3 Description Very large lime tree (T. platyphyllos) at top edge of the lower cliff.
 Image 4 ID 2815         Click image to enlarge
 Image 4 Description Fungus (unid.) on Tilia.
 Image 5 ID 2816         Click image to enlarge
 Image 5 Description Very large lime tree (T. platyphyllos) with small yew trees at top edge of the lower cliff.
 Image 6 ID 2817         Click image to enlarge
 Image 6 Description Very large yew (7m girth) with exposed root system on cliff.
 Image 7 ID 2818         Click image to enlarge
 Image 7 Description The same yew.
 Image 8 ID 2819         Click image to enlarge
 Image 8 Description Other very large yew tree on the same cliff.
 Image 9 ID 2820         Click image to enlarge
 Image 9 Description Very large (6.2m diameter)beech coppard.
 Image 10 ID 2821         Click image to enlarge
 Image 10 Description Eastern approach to Whitcliffe Wood with gorse in flower.
 
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