Ormsgill Wood

Ormsgill Wood is set in a peaceful spot close to Malham in the south of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with fantastic views across Malhamdale. Planted in the winter of 2016-17 this is now an established young woodland providing habitats for wildlife like black grouse, connecting existing woodlands and providing important ecosystem services, such as helping to reduce flooding.

Ormsgill Wood is a short distance from the village of Airton in a peaceful area of open countryside with views across Malhamdale.

Streams run throughout the Ormsgill woodland site (headwaters of the river Aire) so species planted are appropriate for wetland areas. These native trees now form a series of new gill woodlands which will grow to provide habitat suitable for black grouse.

20,510 trees are planted in total including: Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Rowan, Hazel, Bird Cherry, Sessile Oak, Goat Willow and Hawthorn. All the saplings have been planted with individual tree guards to protect them from harsh weather and rabbit damage, and the site has been fenced to prevent damage from livestock.

Visiting Ormsgill Wood

Ormsgill wood is only a few miles from the village of Airton in Malhamdale.

Travelling to Airton from Settle along Scosthrop Lane take a right turn onto Orms Gill Green Lane - a rough single track lane leading to
Craikemoor Farm. The lane is not signposted from the main road but is marked with a public footpath sign reading ‘3.5 miles to Long Preston’.

Grid Reference: SD870595

Download the Ormsgill Wood fact sheet with map

PLEASE NOTE: Ormsgill Wood is located on private land which is not open to the public and there is no parking (except on official YDMT woodland open days). There are footpaths which cross the area offering good views of the young woodland.