Читать книгу Walking in the Forest of Bowland and Pendle. 40 walks in Lancashire's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty онлайн

20 страница из 41

Pass beneath the aqueduct and continue along the riverbank to locate another step-stile, entering Lawson’s Wood and immediately crossing another footbridge. Lawson’s Wood is one of a number – Cole, Shire Oaks, Burton, Lawson’s and Walks Woods – forming Aughton Woods, a reserve owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust. Note A short stretch of the Lune Valley Ramble through Aughton Nature Reserve has been affected by landslip, and is closed.

Aughton Woods is one of the finest areas of ancient woodland in Lancashire, and largely made up of sessile oak and ash, but with alder, elm, birch, holly, hazel and small-leaved lime also present. The lime, which has survived in the ravines and along the western and southern edges of the wood, is a relic of the woodlands that covered much of this landscape centuries ago, and, like the bluebells you find in the wood, an indicator of ancient woodland. There are some sycamores, too, but these are gradually being intentionally replaced with oak because they are not normally found in this area.