Ashbank Wood

Wood, Forest in Northumberland

England

Ashbank Wood

Nacreous clouds over Heddon Common Polar stratospheric clouds, also known as nacreous and mother-of-pearl clouds, are formed of small water droplets or usually ice crystals of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and, typically, hidden from direct view, these thin clouds can be seen significantly diffracting sunlight in a nearly coherent manner, with different colours being deflected by different amounts. They form when cold temperatures in the usually cloudless lower stratosphere form ice crystals. They remain sunlit at altitudes of around 15 to 25 kilometres even after sunset and just before the dawn.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200115.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200115.html">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> — Nacreous clouds over Heddon Common Credit: Andrew Curtis

Ashbank Wood is a serene and picturesque forest located in Northumberland, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, this enchanting woodland is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor lovers.

The wood is characterized by its diverse range of tree species, including oak, birch, beech, and pine. These majestic trees provide a dense canopy that offers shelter and shade to a variety of wildlife, creating a thriving ecosystem within the wood. Visitors can expect to encounter a plethora of bird species, such as woodpeckers, owls, and thrushes, as well as small mammals like squirrels and rabbits.

Traversing the wood, visitors will find well-maintained footpaths and trails that lead deep into the heart of the forest. These paths offer a tranquil and immersive experience, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the natural surroundings. The wood is also home to a small, babbling brook that adds to the peaceful ambiance of the area.

Ashbank Wood is a true haven for outdoor activities. It provides ample opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and photography. Additionally, the wood is a popular spot for picnics and family outings, with designated areas equipped with benches and tables.

Overall, Ashbank Wood is a magical destination for those seeking solace in nature. Its stunning landscape, abundant wildlife, and well-maintained trails make it an ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse oneself in the beauty of the natural world.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Ashbank Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.988296/-1.8020919 or Grid Reference NZ1265. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Nacreous clouds over Heddon Common Polar stratospheric clouds, also known as nacreous and mother-of-pearl clouds, are formed of small water droplets or usually ice crystals of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and, typically, hidden from direct view, these thin clouds can be seen significantly diffracting sunlight in a nearly coherent manner, with different colours being deflected by different amounts. They form when cold temperatures in the usually cloudless lower stratosphere form ice crystals. They remain sunlit at altitudes of around 15 to 25 kilometres even after sunset and just before the dawn.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200115.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200115.html">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Nacreous clouds over Heddon Common

Polar stratospheric clouds, also known as nacreous and mother-of-pearl clouds, are formed of small water droplets or usually ice crystals of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and, typically, hidden from direct view, these thin clouds can be seen significantly diffracting sunlight in a nearly coherent manner, with different colours being deflected by different amounts. They form when cold temperatures in the usually cloudless lower stratosphere form ice crystals. They remain sunlit at altitudes of around 15 to 25 kilometres even after sunset and just before the dawn. Link

Somewhere over the rainbow A plane flies south from Newcastle Airpoprt above a fine display of nacreous rainbow clouds just after sunrise.

Somewhere over the rainbow

A plane flies south from Newcastle Airpoprt above a fine display of nacreous rainbow clouds just after sunrise.

Nacreous clouds at sunrise

Nacreous clouds at sunrise

Musk-mallow (Malva moschata), Heddon Common

Musk-mallow (Malva moschata), Heddon Common

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Heddon Common Showing an inflorescence of unopened, spherical flower-buds.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Heddon Common

Showing an inflorescence of unopened, spherical flower-buds.

Climbing corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata), Heddon Common On Heddon Common, this plant in the fumitory family is associated with a rare weevil (Procas granulicollis) which is endemic to Britain. &quot;It is found in woodland clearings or woodland edges where there is light shading from well-dispersed trees. It is associated with bracken Pteridium aquilinum and Climbing Corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata). The species is found in southern Scotland, Wales and at three colonies in England. It is known from Heddon Common in Northumberland.&quot;
A Biodiversity Audit of the North East (2001): <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.nebiodiversity.org.uk/docs/1.pdf" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.nebiodiversity.org.uk/docs/1.pdf">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://web.archive.org/web/20210728135902/http://www.nebiodiversity.org.uk/docs/1.pdf" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210728135902/http://www.nebiodiversity.org.uk/docs/1.pdf">Archive Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Wildflower Finder: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/C/Corydalis(Climbing)/Corydalis(Climbing).htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/C/Corydalis(Climbing)/Corydalis(Climbing).htm">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606120630/http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/C/Corydalis(Climbing)/Corydalis(Climbing).htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606120630/http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/C/Corydalis(Climbing)/Corydalis(Climbing).htm">Archive Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Climbing corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata), Heddon Common

On Heddon Common, this plant in the fumitory family is associated with a rare weevil (Procas granulicollis) which is endemic to Britain. "It is found in woodland clearings or woodland edges where there is light shading from well-dispersed trees. It is associated with bracken Pteridium aquilinum and Climbing Corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata). The species is found in southern Scotland, Wales and at three colonies in England. It is known from Heddon Common in Northumberland." A Biodiversity Audit of the North East (2001): Link

Wildflower Finder: Link

Spider's web on tree Unlike the orb web <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6942715">NZ1266 : Spider's web on tree</a>, the sheet webs are densely woven, thin, horizontal sheets which look like silken hammocks often built on stems of grass or low bushes. On this garden conifer the webs stand out on a misty mid-summer morning. Bugs fall onto the hammocks or get knocked down when they collide with a tangle of threads above the sheet.

Sheet webs are usually built by the Linyphiidae. This is the largest family of spiders in the UK, with 280 species. It includes the tiny money spiders said to bring good luck if you find one wandering over you.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/spider-webs.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/spider-webs.html">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Spider's web on tree

Unlike the orb web NZ1266 : Spider's web on tree, the sheet webs are densely woven, thin, horizontal sheets which look like silken hammocks often built on stems of grass or low bushes. On this garden conifer the webs stand out on a misty mid-summer morning. Bugs fall onto the hammocks or get knocked down when they collide with a tangle of threads above the sheet. Sheet webs are usually built by the Linyphiidae. This is the largest family of spiders in the UK, with 280 species. It includes the tiny money spiders said to bring good luck if you find one wandering over you. Link

Spider's web on tree Classic orb web on garden conifer.

A two-dimensional web that look like a bicycle wheel or dart board.

Orb webs are constructed with radial threads that function as a scaffold. The spider then lays down sticky threads in a spiral.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/spider-webs.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/spider-webs.html">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Spider's web on tree

Classic orb web on garden conifer. A two-dimensional web that look like a bicycle wheel or dart board. Orb webs are constructed with radial threads that function as a scaffold. The spider then lays down sticky threads in a spiral. Link

Common green shieldbug nymph on stinging nettle Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) undergoes hemimetabolic development in that they have no larval stage and so they emerge as miniature adults or nymphs. The young go through 5 stages of growth pre-adulthood and these are known as instars. The primary instar has dark colouration and the green colouration, caused by serrations in their exoskeleton refracting light, becomes more prevalent with age.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://biomeecology.com/nature/2016/04/the-life-of-a-common-green-shieldbug" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://biomeecology.com/nature/2016/04/the-life-of-a-common-green-shieldbug">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

A recent beneficiary of climate change, the common green shieldbug was once restricted to Southern England. In recent years, however, it has been on the march, and is now common and widespread across much of England and Wales, and spreading further northwards.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.ywt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bugs/common-green-shieldbug" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bugs/common-green-shieldbug">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Common green shieldbug nymph on stinging nettle

Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) undergoes hemimetabolic development in that they have no larval stage and so they emerge as miniature adults or nymphs. The young go through 5 stages of growth pre-adulthood and these are known as instars. The primary instar has dark colouration and the green colouration, caused by serrations in their exoskeleton refracting light, becomes more prevalent with age. Link

A recent beneficiary of climate change, the common green shieldbug was once restricted to Southern England. In recent years, however, it has been on the march, and is now common and widespread across much of England and Wales, and spreading further northwards. Link

September morning sunrise

September morning sunrise

Cyanobacterium (Nostoc species), Heddon Common

Nostoc is a genus of cyanobacteria found in various environments that forms colonies composed of filaments of moniliform cells in a gelatinous sheath. The name Nostoc was coined by Paracelsus. Nostoc can be found in soil, on moist rocks, at the bottom of lakes and springs, and rarely in marine habitats. Wikipedia: Link

Free-living Nostoc species, including the widespread and common Nostoc commune, often form large colonies which appear like flattish, wrinkled, gelatinous masses. These masses are particularly prominent on soil surfaces after prolonged periods of rain. When conditions get drier, the colonies shrivel, become pale brown in colour, and blend into the soil surface. Cyanobacteria can survive prolonged periods of desiccation. Oxford plant profile: Link

Hadrian's Wall east of Heddon on the Wall Taken on a sunny winter&#039;s morning in January 2004 with my first and low resolution digital camera (Canon Ixus). Only uploaded in 2021 as a photo for my 2022 Heddon on the Wall Geograph Calendar.

To the right (north) of the Wall the edge of the berm with the Northern ditch is marked by the shadow.

&quot;In front of the Wall lay a berm, normally about 20 Roman feet (6m) wide. In places in the eastern 17.5km of the Wall pits have been found on the berm. In one area at least, where there were three rows of pits, each held two substantial posts, perhaps cut down tree trunks with the branches trimmed short and sharpened at their ends. In one sector the pits were recut. Beyond the berm lay a ditch. It ran along the whole length of the Wall, except where the crags or similar features rendered it unnecessary. It was probably planned to be 30 Roman feet (9m) wide. The material from its excavation was tipped out to the north to form a wide, low mound.&quot;
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/history/about-hadrians-wall/building-hadrians-wall" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/history/about-hadrians-wall/building-hadrians-wall">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://web.archive.org/web/20210307055957/https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/history/about-hadrians-wall/building-hadrians-wall" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210307055957/https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/history/about-hadrians-wall/building-hadrians-wall">Archive Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

The presence of pits along this section of the berm was demonstrated by geophysics in 2018.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/throckley--heddon-entanglements.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/throckley--heddon-entanglements.html">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://web.archive.org/web/20210204213252/http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/throckley--heddon-entanglements.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210204213252/http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/throckley--heddon-entanglements.html">Archive Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Hadrian's Wall east of Heddon on the Wall

Taken on a sunny winter's morning in January 2004 with my first and low resolution digital camera (Canon Ixus). Only uploaded in 2021 as a photo for my 2022 Heddon on the Wall Geograph Calendar. To the right (north) of the Wall the edge of the berm with the Northern ditch is marked by the shadow. "In front of the Wall lay a berm, normally about 20 Roman feet (6m) wide. In places in the eastern 17.5km of the Wall pits have been found on the berm. In one area at least, where there were three rows of pits, each held two substantial posts, perhaps cut down tree trunks with the branches trimmed short and sharpened at their ends. In one sector the pits were recut. Beyond the berm lay a ditch. It ran along the whole length of the Wall, except where the crags or similar features rendered it unnecessary. It was probably planned to be 30 Roman feet (9m) wide. The material from its excavation was tipped out to the north to form a wide, low mound." Link

The presence of pits along this section of the berm was demonstrated by geophysics in 2018. Link

Rear of The Swan, Heddon on the Wall

Rear of The Swan, Heddon on the Wall

Dahlia beds, Halls of Heddon Halls of Heddon is a family run plant nursery, established 100 years ago. They started specialising from their early years in Dahlias and Chrysanthemums and now send Dahlia tubers world wide where the demand for new British raised varieties continues to grow. The fields at Heddon are a sight to see in late summer with over 10,000 plants in flower from late August until the first frosts.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.hallsofheddon.com/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.hallsofheddon.com/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://web.archive.org/web/20210711101507/https://www.hallsofheddon.com/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210711101507/https://www.hallsofheddon.com/">Archive Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

&quot;Dahlia, a small genus of herbaceous perennials native to Mexico and Central America, is commonplace among late-summer plants in European gardens. Centuries of artificial breeding has transformed the appearance of garden dahlias compared to their wild relatives.

Unpicking the inheritance of dahlia colour was a surprising success for the science of genetics in its twentieth-century infancy. Anthocyanins produce magenta, purple, crimson and scarlet, chalcones and aurones produce yellows, and flavones and flavanones produce ivory pigments. Interactions among these pigments contribute to the hundreds of distinctive, named garden dahlia cultivars. Moreover, changes to the appearance of the hundreds of tiny flowers that make up a dahlia flowerhead may lead to dramatic differences in overall appearance compared to the typical daisy-like wild dahlia.&quot;
Oxford Plants 400: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/CD/Dahlia" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/CD/Dahlia">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://web.archive.org/web/20210910053331/https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/CD/Dahlia" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210910053331/https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/CD/Dahlia">Archive Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Dahlia beds, Halls of Heddon

Halls of Heddon is a family run plant nursery, established 100 years ago. They started specialising from their early years in Dahlias and Chrysanthemums and now send Dahlia tubers world wide where the demand for new British raised varieties continues to grow. The fields at Heddon are a sight to see in late summer with over 10,000 plants in flower from late August until the first frosts. Link

"Dahlia, a small genus of herbaceous perennials native to Mexico and Central America, is commonplace among late-summer plants in European gardens. Centuries of artificial breeding has transformed the appearance of garden dahlias compared to their wild relatives. Unpicking the inheritance of dahlia colour was a surprising success for the science of genetics in its twentieth-century infancy. Anthocyanins produce magenta, purple, crimson and scarlet, chalcones and aurones produce yellows, and flavones and flavanones produce ivory pigments. Interactions among these pigments contribute to the hundreds of distinctive, named garden dahlia cultivars. Moreover, changes to the appearance of the hundreds of tiny flowers that make up a dahlia flowerhead may lead to dramatic differences in overall appearance compared to the typical daisy-like wild dahlia." Oxford Plants 400: Link

Flower pickers, Halls of Heddon

Flower pickers, Halls of Heddon

The Swan, Towne Gate, Heddon on the Wall

The Swan, Towne Gate, Heddon on the Wall

Junction of Towne Gate & Marius Avenue, Heddon on the Wall

Junction of Towne Gate & Marius Avenue, Heddon on the Wall

South entrance to St Andrew's Church, Heddon on the Wall

South entrance to St Andrew's Church, Heddon on the Wall

Show me another place!

Ashbank Wood is located at Grid Ref: NZ1265 (Lat: 54.988296, Lng: -1.8020919)

Unitary Authority: Northumberland

Police Authority: Northumbria

What 3 Words

///centrally.perfumes.narrating. Near Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland

Nearby Locations

Ashbank Wood Hemmel Wood West Wood

Related Wikis

Close House, Northumberland

Close House, Northumberland

Close House is a country estate near Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland. The estate contains a Grade II* listed former mansion house, which is currently...

British Masters

British Masters

The Betfred British Masters is a professional golf tournament. It was founded in 1946 as the Dunlop Masters and was held every year up to 2008, except...

Heddon-on-the-Wall

Heddon-on-the-Wall

Heddon-on-the-Wall is a village in Northumberland, England, located on Hadrian's Wall. Heddon-on-the-Wall is roughly 9 miles (14 km) west of the centre...

George Stephenson's Birthplace

George Stephenson's Birthplace

George Stephenson's Birthplace is the 18th-century stone cottage home of rail pioneer George Stephenson. Located along the north bank of the River Tyne...

Milecastle 12

Milecastle 12

Milecastle 12 (Heddon) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains lay under Town Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, (just opposite the farm house...

Clara Vale

Clara Vale

Clara Vale is a village situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent village in County Durham it became...

Milecastle 13

Milecastle 13

Milecastle 13 (Rudchester Burn) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform south of the B6318 Military Road....

North Wylam railway station

North Wylam railway station

North Wylam railway station served the village of Wylam, Northumberland, England from 1876 to 1968 on the Tyne Valley Line. == History == The station opened...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 54.988296,-1.8020919

Turning Circle

Lat/Long: 54.9869177/-1.8031946

Power: tower

Lat/Long: 54.9917573/-1.7998878

Power: tower

Lat/Long: 54.9892774/-1.7951439

Power: tower

Lat/Long: 54.9890201/-1.7991762

Power: tower

Lat/Long: 54.9911913/-1.8035092

Restaurant

Lat/Long: 54.986059/-1.8036219

Power: tower

Lat/Long: 54.9926044/-1.8033404

Barrier: stile

Step Count: 4

Stile: stepover

Lat/Long: 54.9910539/-1.8036362

The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

The Grove Staffordshire

Dunkirk Wood Staffordshire

Have you been to Ashbank Wood?

Leave your review of Ashbank Wood below (or comments, questions and feedback).