Little Beck Wood nature reserve is a wonderfully secluded and magical woodland near Whitby. An intricate mix of tree species inhabit this ancient woodland adorning the slopes above Little Beck, which meanders its way down the valley to meet the river Esk.
The seasonal woodland flora dots the verdant scene with bluebells, the yellow of primroses, wood avens and pink herb Robert. You can see many varieties of ferns unfurling gracefully up and out of leaf litter and rock crevices.
Its special qualities are no secret. The coast-to-coast footpath that passes through the reserve provides a steady trickle of walkers, and there is a popular walk up to Falling Foss waterfall which attracts many visitors too. Part of the woodland is also a protected site, recognising its natural value and securing its future.
Recently a new sculpture has been carved within the wood by local sculptor Steve Iredale, and was kindly funded by North York Moors National Park.
The starting point was an ash tree on the edge of the Coast to Coast path which was cut down in early 2023 due to disease. We immediately thought about turning it into a sculpture with the aim of creating something positive from the loss of this tree.
A poem called ‘Peace’ by Georgia Douglas Johnson provided the inspiration. It beautifully describes her connection with nature and what that means for her. I hope that finding this sculpture whilst walking will encourage visitors to pause, and perhaps reflect on their own connection with nature.
