Leigh Woods

Infobox park
park=Leigh Woods


image size=240px
caption=The woods in early autumn.
type=open access woodland
location=Bristol, England
coordinates=N51:27 W2:38
size=convert|2|km2|acre
opened=
operator=National Trust, Forestry Commission
annual visitors=
status=open all year

Leigh Woods is a convert|2|km2|acre area of woodland on the south-west side of the Avon Gorge, opposite the English city of Bristol and north of the Ashton Court estate. Small mountain biking circuits are present in the woods and the area is a popular walking area for Bristolians. Part of the woodland was donated to the National Trust in 1909 by George Alfred Wills,cite web |url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-localtoyou/w-wessex/w-wessex-countryside/w-wessex-countryside-oak_woods.htm |title=Leigh Woods |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format= |work=National Trust ] to prevent development of the city beside the gorge. Areas not owned by the National Trust have since been taken over by the Forestry Commission.

To the south of the woods is an exclusive suburb of Bristol of the same name. It is situated at the western end of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1864, making the development of Leigh Woods as an upmarket residential area practicable. Houses in varying styles were built from the mid-1860s until the First World War. Styles adopted included Italian, neo-Jacobean, Scottish baronial, Swiss chalet, Domestic Revival and Arts and Crafts.

At the western end of the bridge is Burwalls House, a Victorian mansion owned by the University of Bristol and currently used as a centre for continuing education. On a bluff overlooking the bridge is Alpenfels, a mock Swiss chalet constructed for the Wills tobacco family.

Topography

At the southern end of the wood is Nightingale Valley (one of several thus named in the area), a dry valley which is cut into the side of the gorge, and is on the Monarch's Way. It drops from nearly opposite the north gate of Ashton Court to the River Avon beside the Western buttress of the suspension bridge. Stokeleigh Camp is a hill fort, thought to have been occupied from 3BC to 1AD and also in the middle ages, [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/nature/04.shtml |title=Avon Gorge |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format= |work=BBC Bristol ] which is on a promontory, bounding the north flank of the valley.

Proceeding north, down the Avon, there are a series of limestone and mineral quarries, now disused.

At the northern end of the woods is the evocatively named Paradise Bottom. This is part of the Leigh Court Estate. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this had an important celestine quarry and mineral line to a dock on the Avon; both are now derelict. [cite web |url=http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/22/Paradise.htm |title=Paradise Bottom |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format= |work=Industrial Railway Society Archive ] The area has of recent years been restored as an Arboretum.

Flora and fauna

Because of the rare flora and fauna the woods have been included in the Avon Gorge Site of Special Scientific Interest, [cite web |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003073.pdf |title=Avon Gorge SSSI |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format=PDF |work=English Nature ] and has been designated as a National Nature Reserve. [cite web |url=http://www.avongorge.org.uk/wildlifeconservation.php?ContentID=22 |title=Leigh Woods |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format=PDF |work=Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife project ]

The south part of the woods is an area of former pasture woodland with old pollards, mainly oak and some small-leaved lime. To the north, the area comprises ancient woodland of old coppice with standards and contains a rich variety of trees. Rare trees include Bristol whitebeam ("Sorbus bristoliensis") and Wild Service Tree ("Sorbus torminalis"). On the steep grassy slopes above the River Avon, Bristol rockcress ("Arabis scabra") which is unique to the Avon Gorge can be seen flowering in April; orchids and Western spiked speedwell ("Veronica spicata") are common in June and July. In autumn the woodland is home to over 300 species of fungi. [cite web |url=http://www.englishnature.gov.uk/text_version/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?nnr_name=&C=1&Habitat=0&natural_area=&local_team=0&spotlight_reserve=0&X=&NNR_ID=217 |title= Leigh Woods NNR |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format=PDF |work=English Nature ] Bilberry, a scarce plant in the Bristol area, is found in Leigh Woods, as is the parasitic plant Yellow Bird's-nest. [Myles (2000) page 108] Lady Orchid was discovered here in 1990, in Nightingale Valley; there is some doubt as to whether this was a wild plant or an introduction. [Myles (2000) page 251]

Birds which live in the woods include the Raven ("Corvus") and Peregrine Falcon ("Falco peregrinus"). Many butterflies and moths can be seen in summer including the White-letter Hairstreak ("Satyrium w-album").

References

Bibliography

* Myles, Sarah (2000) "Flora of the Bristol Region" ISBN 1-874357-18-8

External links

* [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-localtoyou/w-wessex/w-wessex-countryside/w-wessex-countryside-oak_woods.htm Leigh Woods information at the National Trust]
* [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/Recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandBathandNorthEastSomersetCommunityWoodlandsLeighWoods Leigh Woods information at the Forestry Commission]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0601.htm Map of Leigh Woods circa 1900]