Ivy Crag Wood is a small remnant of mature oak woodland on the slopes of Dodd below Skiddaw, west of Keswick. The site is a nature reserve, given to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 1969 by Miss F M Linley.

Although it appears natural, records show that the whole of the Dodd was planted at the end of the 18th century, probably with oak and other native tree species. Since then, the rest of the Dodd has been managed for commercial forestry with exotic conifers and beech being planted. Ivy Crag Wood is one of the only areas which still has the original oak woodland. Traditionally the wood would have been harvested regularly by coppicing and there is evidence of charcoal burning on the site in the form of a level pitstead. However at some point, coppicing ceased and high forest was allowed to develop. The oaks are now mature and are starting to provide nest holes and dead wood making them extremely valuable for wildlife. As well as oak, ash, sycamore, and sweet chestnut are present. The site is regularly used by pied flycatcher, a speciality of upland oak woodlands which utilise holes in trees for nesting. Redstart, great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper and tawny owl also breed on the nature reserve. Red squirrels are still common in the area and may be seen on the nature reserve. The site is exceptionally steep and is underlain by Skiddaw Slate which outcrops in some areas. The ground flora reflects the acidic nature of the underlying rock and includes wood sage, bluebell and wood anemone.

Management

The Trust maintains a number of nest boxes on the nature reserve to provide additional nest sites. Conifers and beech from the surrounding forestry plantation have started to colonise the site and management is carried out to reduce the impact of this. Rhododendron, which occurs in the lower part of the nature reserve, is also being removed.

Businesses Supporting this Project

Royal Oak Hotel