Little Beck Wood Nature Reserve

Little Beck Wood Nature Reserve

Little Beck Wood Nature Reserve

In a sheltered, secluded valley in the North York Moors lies lovely Little Beck Wood, close to the beauty spot of the Falling Foss waterfall and home to a wealth of wildlife.

Location

Little Beck Lane
Whitby
North Yorkshire
YO22 5HA

OS Map Reference

NZ 8789 0490 - west side. NZ 87951 04929 - east side.
What.3.words///hillsides.detection.responded (west) unveils.jobs.commuted (east).
A static map of Little Beck Wood Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
26 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Surfaced car park at Littlebeck village hall (suggested donation) then short walk down steep hill to reserve entrance.

Grazing animals

Livestock.

Walking trails

There are public footpaths throughout the woodland, but they can be steep, uneven and at times muddy. There’s a beautiful circular route taking in Falling Foss waterfall, where there’s a tearoom.

Access

Steep, uneven and unsurfaced paths throughout the woodland. Not currently wheelchair accessible. 

Dogs

On a lead

Please be respectful of the reserve's resident wildlife.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times. We recommend a half day trip for this reserve, but if you want a longer outing why not visit Fen Bog, Falling Foss or Whitby?

Best time to visit

March to September

About the reserve

A lush, characterful woodland of oak, ash, alder and cherry, Little Beck Wood is split into two by Little Beck – the perfect place to see dippers and grey wagtails. Look out for woodland birds including great spotted woodpecker, marsh tit, nuthatch and treecreeper, and spotted flycatchers in summer. In spring and early summer, the woodland floor bursts into life, with wood anemone, bluebell, primrose, moschatel and early purple orchid. Can you spot badger scrapes, deer tracks and rodent holes around the site?

Contact us

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01904 659570
Contact email: info@ywt.org.uk

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

About

Primarily broadleaved woodland with a small pasture at the southern end, the site avoids the worst of the North Yorks Moors weather being situated in a secluded position at the bottom of the valley.

The nature reserve is split into two as the small river of Little Beck dissects it. Whist the majority of tree species here are oaks, ash, alder and cherry there is also an understory of hazel, holly and rowan. Both sections are rich in ground flora which sustains the healthy mammal population.

In the spring and early summer wood anemone, bluebell, primrose and early purple orchid are in full flower, whilst ferns dominate the shadier areas. Badger scrapes may be discovered around dense areas of bluebells, whilst deer tracks might be seen in the damp sections of the path and rodent holes in the banks around the site. Sightings of birds are commonplace, including the secretive treecreeper and dipper. Dead wood provides an important food source for insects, several of which are listed in the Red Data Book as being rare; these in turn support the population of birds and animals higher up the food chain.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has worked to maintain the woodland since taking over the lease in 1970 from the Forestry Commission and then later purchasing it in 1986. Bird boxes provide vital breeding spaces for nuthatch, tits and owls. Tree health is also a primary concern, with any diseased or damaged trees made safe with regards to the public and left as dead wood where possible. The understory is also managed to retain tree health, with the thinning of holly and coppicing of hazel. The pasture is cut for hay and grazed by neighbouring farmer’s livestock.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring: Plants - Bluebell; Wood anemone; Primrose; Early purple orchid; Dog violet
  • Summer: Plants - Moschatel; Birds - Great spotted woodpecker; Spotted flycatcher
  • Autumn: Fungi; Birds - Dipper
  • Winter: Birds - Grey wagtail; Treecreeper

Directions

Public transport
The nearest train station is at Sleights

By car
Take either the A169 from Pickering or the B1416 from Scarborough. Turn off to the village of Littlebeck where the woodland is situated immediately south of the ford. Please park considerately in the village.

#falling-foss-circular
A tree top canopy with a blue sky.

Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Let’s go wild for Yorkshire's wildlife!

From the heights of Ingleborough to the tip of Spurn, our nature reserves are a home (often the only home) to Yorkshire’s rarest and most incredible wildlife. Will you help us continue our work and provide these vital sanctuaries for nature?
£

WildNet - Mike Snelle

Magical Wildlife Moment...

Watching a dipper bobbing on a rock in the beck. Credit: Mike Snelle.