Ash Bank Plantation

Wood, Forest in Lancashire South Lakeland

England

Ash Bank Plantation

Coniston Holly How Youth Hostel, 1987 Described in a 1980s YHA handbook as &quot;Former guest house in its own beautiful grounds just north of Coniston village.&quot; It was graded &quot;Superior&quot; at that time. Still open. — Coniston Holly How Youth Hostel, 1987 Credit: Nigel Thompson

Ash Bank Plantation is a lush woodland located in Lancashire, England. Situated near the village of Ash Bank, this expansive plantation covers an area of approximately 100 acres. The plantation is predominantly made up of ash trees, hence its name, but also features a diverse range of other tree species such as oak, beech, and birch, creating a rich and varied forest ecosystem.

The dense canopy of Ash Bank Plantation provides a haven for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The forest floor is covered in a thick carpet of mosses, ferns, and wildflowers, creating a vibrant and picturesque landscape. The plantation is also home to various species of birds, including woodpeckers, owls, and songbirds, making it a popular spot for birdwatchers.

The plantation is crisscrossed by a network of walking trails, allowing visitors to explore its natural beauty at their leisure. These trails offer scenic views of the surrounding countryside, and the peaceful ambiance of the woodland provides a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Ash Bank Plantation is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers, and families looking to enjoy a day out in nature.

Managed by the local authorities, Ash Bank Plantation is well-maintained and offers amenities such as picnic areas and benches for visitors to relax and enjoy the serenity of the woodland. Additionally, the plantation is an important site for conservation efforts, with ongoing initiatives to preserve and protect the diverse range of plant and animal species that call it home.

Overall, Ash Bank Plantation is a beautiful and tranquil woodland that offers a peaceful retreat for nature enthusiasts and provides a valuable habitat for a wide array of wildlife.

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Ash Bank Plantation Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.382764/-3.0511844 or Grid Reference SD3199. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Coniston Holly How Youth Hostel, 1987

Described in a 1980s YHA handbook as "Former guest house in its own beautiful grounds just north of Coniston village." It was graded "Superior" at that time. Still open.

Nigel Thompson

Sheep grazing near Tarn Hows Woods

Eirian Evans

Yewdale Valley

Yewdale Crag to the right

Eirian Evans

Yewdale Valley

Poor grazing land here

Eirian Evans

Monk Coniston Hall

Monk Coniston Hall is a National Trust property privately leased to HF Holidays as one of their Country Houses.

Adrian Taylor

Counting House at Monk Coniston

Monk Coniston is a National Trust Property leased by HF Holidays and operated as a country house hotel. There are several buildings on the site; this is the Counting House.

Trevor Littlewood

Eastern side of Tarn Hows

Tarn Hows is an archetypal Lake District location close to the village of Coniston. It's partly an artificial creation, the result of damming one of three tarns to create a larger feature.

Trevor Littlewood

Birch tree on bracken-strewn slope

The tree is on a hill slope south-west of Tarn Hows. The bracken is of course dead, the residue of the previous year's growth. Wetherlam just shows above knolls at the left side horizon.

Trevor Littlewood

Heading back to Monk Coniston

A walking party on the grit-path heading for the HF country hotel at Monk Coniston. The path is unusual in that it's mapped specifically as a bridleway rather than it being assumed to be a path conventionally adjacent to a motor road.

Trevor Littlewood

Wharton Tarn

The tarn is a small area of water lying just over a kilometre south of Tarn Hows. It appears to be infilling with vegetation.

Trevor Littlewood

Shepherds Bridge

Shepherds Bridge carries a public footpath over Yewdale Beck on the outskirts of Coniston village; it's part of the route of the Cumbria Way. The bridge also serves as access for the cottage.

Trevor Littlewood

Guards Wood

Most of the trees seen here in the wood remain standing but over the summit area of the hill devastation was caused by Storm Arwen at the end of November 2021 and probably by subsequent winter storms. Ramorum disease had already affected trees there which were being removed by the National Trust.

Trevor Littlewood

Damage to trees at summit of High Guards

High Guards is a low, wooded hill close to Coniston. The hillwalker is at its summit which was devastated by Storm Arwen at the end of November 2021 and probably by subsequent winter storms. A path crosses the hill going close to the summit but its route is blocked by many windthrown trees; much detouring and clambering is required to make the crossing.

Trevor Littlewood

Obstructions to path descending through Guards Wood

Much damage was caused in Guards Wood by Storm Arwen at the end of November 2021 and probably by subsequent winter storms. The summit area of High Guards, the hill on which the wood grows, was badly affected and difficult to access - Link . The path crossing the hill was equally affected by windthrown trees. The awkwardness caused by the two trees across the path in this image was trivial by comparison.

Trevor Littlewood

Monk Coniston

The south-west face of the large house at Monk Coniston which, with land was owned by Beatrix Potter who left it to the National Trust; the Trust still has it. Currently, it's leased by HF holidays who operate it as a country house hotel.

Trevor Littlewood

Damage to woodland path adjacent to road

Along this path close to Tarn Hows there are many fallen trees brought down by the storms of winter 2021-2022. The foreground tree has almost gone and has prised away the path surface passing its base. Sawn tree trunks can be seen beyond and there were many more but not all are victims of those storms. Some felling of trees has been going on because of infection with the Phytophthora ramorum disease.

Trevor Littlewood