A living history

Carved by ice and water from the surrounding gently rolling landscape, the steepness of the gorge sides here has protected the trees from felling. These ancient woodlands have clung to these gorge sides for centuries, providing a sanctuary for a wealth of wildlife. Bright with flowers in the spring, in the autumn raspberry, blaeberry and brambles provide food for badgers, birds and people alike. Some less common plants grow in the wetter areas and dead tree stumps are home to rare beetles and hoverflies.