A Winter Morning in Finglandrigg Wood
A lovely little woodland and heathland nature reserve in Cumbria, England
On a glorious crisp and sunny winter morning, Matt and I went for a stroll in Finglandrigg Wood.
Located on the road between Carlisle and Kirkbride, Finglandrigg Wood is one of only a few areas of woodland along the Cumbrian Solway Coast. A convenient lay-by provides parking and an information board.
A gentle path sets off through mixed woodland, with low winter sunlight filtering through the remaining leaves.
A population of red squirrels apparently lives in these woods, but we are not lucky enough to see one. We do see lots of small birds flitting among the branches: robins, chaffinches, great tits, coal tits and blackbirds. A jay screeches in a nearby tree, and a buzzard cries overhead.
As we walk through the woods we see many old rotting tree stumps and cut sections of tree trunks on the ground. These moss-covered chunks of wood provide food and shelter for all manner of creatures as they slowly decay. They are an important feature in the overall life of the wood.
The path passes a field with clumps of common rush lit up by the low sunlight. Here traces of the first frost of the year can still be seen, and a few sheep graze peacefully in the background.
Many of the deciduous leaves have fallen from the trees in the recent strong winds. But some still cling on, glowing brightly in the low sunlight like these beech leaves.
More colour is provided by the glossy green leaves and bright red berries on a holly bush.
Soon we pass a memorial stone dedicated to the conservationist Derek Ratcliffe, who loved these woods.
Anyone who loves seeing birds of prey soaring in the skies above owes a huge debt of gratitude to Derek Ratcliffe. One of his many achievements was highlighting the link between pesticides and eggshell thickness in birds of prey, particularly peregrine falcons.
Ratcliffe noted in the late 1950s that most peregrine nests contained a high proportion of broken eggs, and that the population was plummeting. Extensive research led to the realization that eggshells were becoming thinner due to the presence of high levels of pesticides concentrated in the foodchain - research which ultimately led to the banning of DDT and dieldrin.
The nature of the woods soon changes. Grassland is replaced by heath, and the deciduous woodland is replaced by Scots pines. The ground becomes boggy, but sections of boardwalk make for easy walking.
We reach a more open area - Little Bampton Common. A convenient bench provides a perfect spot for a flask of coffee and a home baked banana and chia seed muffin.
We watch a male pheasant strutting through the heather, and a distant roe deer moving cautiously through the pine trees. Such a perfect day to be outside in this lovely place.
All is peaceful and calm - until a flock of greylag geese flies noisily overhead. I think how strange it is that I find the sounds of traffic and crowds and general human activity so jarring and stressful, and yet the sound of these noisy geese doesn’t bother me at all.
Like the calls of curlews, lapwings and oystercatchers, it is a sound I have been familiar with all my life. A sound that reassures me that I am in a good place - a place where I can relax and feel I belong.
All too soon our trail leads us back to our outward path. The route around Finglandrigg Wood may only be about 3 km but it passes through diverse landscapes, and it is worth spending time noticing the abundant nature that exists here. It is an ideal place to slow down for an hour or so, and just enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
You can read more about Finglandrigg Wood here.
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You have a talent for finding lovely places for nature. I never knew it was there, despite spending days of my misspent youth at Kirkbride airfield.
Thank you for mentioning Derek Radcliffe - it's a name I have long forgotten