J Strid Wood, Upper Wharfedale Strid Wood is in fact two quite narrow strips of broadleaved woodland, separated by the River Wharfe, with a total area of 58.91 hectares. The wood starts from the Cavendish Pavilion and stretches for a mile in a NW direction. The whole Wood was designated an SSSI in December 1985, as the largest acidic oak woodland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Srid Wood is part of the Bolton Abbey Estate, and its management has three strands: firstly it is managed as an amenity for the pleasure of thousands of visitors who flock there each year; secondly it is very much a working wood expected to contribute to the revenue of the Estate. Thirdly its SSSI status places obligations and constraints on the management in that only a very limited number of operations are permitted. Long term and detailed monitoring of the broadleaved tree stock ensures that the Wood as a whole maintains a normal profile in terms of variety and age of tree species – clearly of great importance to the breeding birds, particularly the hole nesters.
Pride of place in the hole-nesting ‘brigade’ goes to the Pied Flycatcher and Redstart although Blue Tit, Great Tit and nuthatch all compete for the smaller holes, whilst larger birds like Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw and Starling are well represented.
Breeding birds at Strid Woods and along the River Wharfe include:
Mallard, Sparrow Hawk, Pheasant, Woodcock, Wood Pigeon, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Redstart, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch, Goosander, Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Grey wagtail, Dipper. A total of 38.
nearby sites: Barden Reservoirs and Chelker Reservoir