Park Wood NNR
Park Wood NNR is an ancient ash-maple woodland on limestone, with areas of limestone pavement and limestone grassland.
County: Cumbria
Main habitats: Woodland
Area: 15 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
The limestone pavement supports rare plant species such as dark helleborine, rigid buckler fern, limestone polypody and angular Solomon's seal. Other rare plants on the reserve are ploughman's spikenard and spring cinquefoil.
The site is home to rare fly species and the scarce narrow mouthed whorl snail. Rare butterflies seen at the site include high brown and pearl bordered fritillary, and the reserve is also home to moths such as the juniper and chestnut-coloured carpet and least minor.
Birds seen here include sparrowhawk, buzzard, wood warbler, hawfinch and tawny owl.
The best time to visit is the spring and early summer for woodland birds, invertebrates and flora.
Visitors are advised to stay on the footpaths and to keep dogs under control, due to the grazing stock.
Location and access
The reserve is 0.5 km south west of Hutton Roof village, on the eastern slopes of Hutton Roof Crags.
By car, access to the reserve is via minor roads from the A65, A6070 and B6254.
The nearest train stations are in Oxenholme, 13 km to the north, served by the TransPennine Express, and Carnforth, 8 km to the south west, served by Northern Rail.
For details of local bus services go to the Cumbria County Council transport website or visit the Travel Search website.
The reserve is on the route of the Limestone Link connecting the Cumbria Coastal Way and Lune Valley Ramble.
Facilities
The nearest toilets and refreshment facilities are in local towns and villages.
Signs are provided for visitor information and several public rights of way cross the reserve and Hutton Roof Crags.
