About Us

Margaret Wood was left to 'The Countryside Restoration Trust' together with two grass meadows by Mr Duncan Elliott of Huddersfield in 2001. The land is situated on the eastern slopes of the Pennines at Upper Denby between Barnsley and Huddersfield.

The wood itself amounts to almost 20 acres and is south facing.  The meadows are a similar size in total. In springtime the woodland floor is carpeted in a wonderful display of bluebells.

It is believed that there has been a wood on the site since before the Norman Conquest. It had originally been an oak and beech wood but was clear felled during the First World War and left. In the 1930s it was described as ‘scrub’ by the Ordinance Survey and during the Second World War there were only a few beech trees standing. By the time the wood came into Duncan Elliott’s possession in 1991 it had been taken over by the invasive sycamore any oak and beech only being poor specimens.

The aim of the trust is to continue the work of Duncan Elliot of removing the sycamore and re introducing native trees such as oak hawthorn and hazel which in turn will benefit our native birds and mammals. The ground flora should also benefit from there being more light as the beech and sycamore cast heavy shadows. The grass meadow is rented out for the grazing of sheep and we have stopped using fertilizers on it in the hope that the variety of native flowers will increase.

We have a group of regular friends made up of members of the Countryside Restoration Trust and local people who meet usually once a month for a working day. During the year we have an Open Day in May when the bluebells are at their best. The August work day continues in to the evening with a BBQ and for the more adventurous camping overnight. In late November we have another open evening when we have the Cairngorm Reindeer visit together with Father Christmas.

The wood is not open to the public as we have been advised that the ecology is too fragile but you will be made welcome and shown round if you wish to visit on a working day. Visits may be possible at other times by prior arrangement with one of the people on the contacts page.

The Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

The native English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) which is found in our woodlands is not the type commonly found on sale in nurseries and garden centers which is the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) and it is quite easy to see the difference if you put them side by side.

The English bluebell has normally a richer darker blue in colour and the flowers hang over to one side. The flower is narrow with straight sides and the petals are tightly curled at the tips.  The leaves are also narrower than none native flowers.  Very occasionally you may find a white bluebell in among the blue ones.

The Spanish flower has paler flowers a more open bell shape which is carried on a more upright stem.  The two types can form a hybrid which is called Hyacinthoides x massartiana.

The English bluebell is usual found in old woodland and as these woods get felled the bluebell is also being lost to the countryside. The bluebell along with most of our native flora is now protected by law and picking the flowers is an offence. It goes without saying that plants from nurseries should not be planted in the wild.  The bluebell produces seeds from the flowers these seeds then produce bulbs.  It takes up to five years for the plant to produce its first flower.

If you want to see them at their best please come and visit us at the May open day.