Nearest town: Lancaster
Grid reference: SD 543 663, Landranger 97 and Explorer OL41

The Aughton Woods enjoy the peace and solitude of a wood in a remote location. Spring is a colourful time to visit when the Bluebells form a carpet across the woodland floor. The ancient semi-natural woodland has retained at least 30 examples of abandoned charcoal hearths, circular platforms levelled out of the hillside. There are many examples of multi-stemmed trees which have grown up from the stools last coppiced 70-100 years ago to provide wood for charcoal and bark for tanning leather.

The wood is particularly noted for its Small-leaved Lime which has survived in the ravines and along the western and southern edges of the wood. Cole Wood and a small adjacent area of Shire Oaks Wood was felled in the mid '60s and contains a good deal of Birch, a primary coloniser of cleared woodland. Sessile Oak dominates the section between the ravines of Shire Oaks Wood where the soil is more acid, with Elm, Ash and Lime occurring in the ravines. From a distance the stand of Ash on the northern edge is distinctive especially as it is often the last to come into leaf and the first to shed. You will also be able to see the Douglas Firs poking through the canopy.

The ground flora includes Primrose, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Wood Speedwell, Foxglove and many ferns. Wood Fescue, which is a national rarity, is confined to the damp ravines. The fronds of Soft Shield Fern, a southern fern, can be seen with their distinctive asymmetrical pinnae which have needle-like points. Woodpeckers, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Chaffinches, and five species of tit may be seen in the reserve. Pied Flycatchers breed regularly and Nuthatches and Wood Warblers have been recorded. You may hear the strange call of the Woodcock in the evening. Oystercatchers and Common Sandpipers are very obvious around the River Lune from late February to August.

In 2002, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trust purchased the meadow above Lawson's Wood.

Management
Sycamore, a fast-growing introduced tree which tends to prevent the native trees from regenerating, has been taken out, and monitoring of its status will continue. Work to return Cole Wood to a more natural state will be undertaken. The meadow is likely to be managed as a woodland glade. For the long-term future it is hoped to take a non-interventionist role in the woodland management. It is worth making a return visit in 15 years or more to see what happens!

For further information contact:

Reuben Neville
Heysham Reserves Manager

tel: 07979 652138
email: rneville@lancswt.org.uk

Location
Cole, Shire Oaks, Burton, Lawson's and Walks Woods form the Aughton Woods complex on the northern side of the River Lune, about 5 miles north east of Lancaster, between Aughton and Caton. The car park at Crook o' Lune can be used and there is a public footpath along the riverside which traverses the lower slopes of Lawson's Wood. There is an access path for members along the bottom of Burton Wood.

Cycle Route

Access
Although a permit is not required to visit Aughton Woods, our legal agreement with adjacent landowners means that only Trust members can use the access paths to Cole Wood and Shire Oaks Wood. Public access is through the entrance at the southern boundary of Lawson's Wood. The two additional entrances over stiles into Cole Wood and Shire Oaks Wood are by permit holders only. Please apply for a permit from the Trust office if you are not a member.

Status
This 28.85ha reserve is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust. Most is an SSSI, Cole and Walks Wood are both County Biological Heritage Sites.