Birks Wood

Wood, Forest in Durham

England

Birks Wood

St Paul's Church, Waterhouses Credit: Oliver Dixon

Birks Wood is a picturesque and sprawling forest located in Durham, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, it is a haven for nature enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility amidst the beauty of the countryside. The wood is situated on the outskirts of the city, making it easily accessible to both locals and tourists alike.

One of the defining features of Birks Wood is its diverse range of plant and animal species. The forest is home to a variety of trees, including oak, beech, and birch, which create a dense canopy overhead, providing shade and shelter for the woodland floor below. Wildflowers such as bluebells, primroses, and foxgloves carpet the forest during the spring, adding vibrant pops of color to the landscape.

The wood is crisscrossed by a network of walking trails, inviting visitors to explore its natural wonders. These paths wind through ancient woodlands, offering glimpses of babbling brooks and small ponds teeming with wildlife. Birdwatchers will find themselves in their element here, as the wood attracts a wide range of avian species, including woodpeckers, owls, and various songbirds.

Birks Wood also boasts a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back centuries. Remnants of an old quarry can still be seen, serving as a reminder of the area's industrial past. The wood has been carefully managed by conservationists, ensuring the preservation of its unique ecosystem and allowing future generations to enjoy its natural beauty. Overall, Birks Wood is a true gem of Durham, offering visitors a serene escape into nature.

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Birks Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.741555/-1.7152719 or Grid Reference NZ1838. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St Paul's Church, Waterhouses

Oliver Dixon

Old bridge abutments on the Deerness Valley Path

These handsome abutments once supported a foot- or farm-bridge over the now-disused railway.

Oliver Dixon

Reflected tree

Bob Edmonds

Stockley Lane west of Oakenshaw Farm

Alexander P Kapp

Road to Nackshivan Farm

Alexander P Kapp

Road off Stockley Lane

Alexander P Kapp

Stockley Lane at Tanner's Hall Cottages

Alexander P Kapp

Stockley Lane at Tanner's Hall Farm

Alexander P Kapp

Access road at junction with the Deerness Valley Walk

The Deerness Valley Walk starts at Stanley Crook heading north from the road at the east end of the village. Not far from there this dirt access road leaves the route and carries a footpath which soon leaves it. The road carries traffic to some kind of biking course, possibly for BMX biking.

Trevor Littlewood

Track in woodland east of Stanley Crook

A junction of public footpaths lies at the north end of a triangular meeting of forestry roads in this woodland. The view is to the south-east along the north-eastern side of that triangle.

Trevor Littlewood

Forestry track and footpath east of Stanley Crook

A kilometre or so east of the County Durham village of Stanley Crook lies an area mapped as mixed woodland. There are several marked tracks or roads in the woods there that can hardly be called forestry roads - they'd not stand the weight of traffic required for that status. This is one of those tracks which is also the route of a public footpath.

Trevor Littlewood

Stanley Beck County Durham

Stanley Beck runs through a small patch of woodland at Stanley Crook, County Durham. a largely overlooked area and so has a true natural beauty, with very few visitors. A former coal mining area has had an impact on the stream bed and in the woodland around, but this is being reclaimed by nature as time passes.

Chris Huff

Birks Wood Stanley Crook

The ruins seen in the photograph are evidence of the extensive mining industry that formerly was the main employment in the area.

Chris Huff

Sheep at Stanley Crook

Three Sheep, two different breeds, the ones at the ends are perhaps Ryelands, the central one a cheviot ?. There's probably someone out there who can correct my ignorance. As can also be seen the field is covered with narrow ridge & furrow.

Chris Huff

Access road for Standalone

Standalone is a farm which lies on a slope descending to the valley of the River Deerness. There's a stile over the wall at the left side of the image which allows walkers to avoid the crossing of cattle a grid; a finger post which is not in quite in view informs that the route is a public byway.

Trevor Littlewood