Upland mixed ashwoods

Colt Park - an example of
an upland mixed ashwood

Ash woodland is the most abundant and widespread type of woodland in the National Park. The Yorkshire Dales ashwoods are strongly associated with base-rich soils and are therefore typical of the limestone country. The Yorkshire Dales lies in a region where the southern, lowland and northern, upland ash woodlands overlap.

The northern ash woods can be dominated by a range of tree species from ash to wych elm and sycamore. Other frequently occurring species include downy birch, rowan and bird cherry. Alder and goat willow occur in wetter woods. Beech has also been planted into many of these woods. This type of woodland usually has occasional oak species present but this is not the case in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The abundance of sycamore is also higher in the Yorkshire Dales than in other more typical northern ash woodlands. The shrub layer in the more natural woodlands of this type is dominated by hawthorn and holly. The composition of the ground flora depends on the level of grazing and canopy cover but is usually dominated by dog's mercury, bluebell and wood avens with ramsons in the wetter areas. Ferns such as male fern and lady fern are also abundant.

The southern, lowland ash woods are largely distinguished by the presence of field maple. There is also a reduced abundance of rowan and downy birch. Ferns are less common and there is an increase in understorey species such as bramble and honeysuckle. One of these woods contains yew providing the only example of native mixed woodland in the National Park. However, many of these more southern woodlands are in fact a mix of southern and northern ash wood communities and are often difficult to distinguish. Upland mixed ashwoods are of high biodiversity value. Consequently, this habitat continues to be listed on the UK list of priority habitats for biodiversity action. For more information about woodland plants please follow the links below.