Irthing Gorge Woodland - Gilsland
Site Description
Irthing Gorge Woodland is located along the steep incised gorge of the River Irthing, the boundary between Cumbria and Northumberland, in the parish of Thirlwell. The Trust’s property lies to the east of the river. The village of Gilsland is 4 miles to the south and Hadrian’s Wall runs through the village.
The gorge lies at an altitude of 150-210m and is cut through gently undulating moorland. The exposed rocks of the Gorge are part of the Scottish calciferous sandstone series, consisting of thick beds of sandstone varying from acidic to calcareous with thinner bands of calcareous shale. Both sides of the Gorge support an excellent example of upland gorge woodland and have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and are semi-natural in nature. The gorge woodland forms part of a complex of habitats associated with the river and surrounding moorland. The upper reaches of the Gorge to the east also lie within Northumberland National Park and abut Ministry of Defence land and to the west are Forestry Commission commercial coniferous plantations. The river is fast flowing and rocky and has side streams and waterfalls. The cliffs vary from 10m to 40m high with many crags and ledges with rich and varied bryophyte communities, lichens in the drier areas and several species of ferns.
The 34ha ancient semi-natural woodland is predominantly upland mixed ash wood with patches of birch woodland. Typical mix seen is P1940 ash, hazel with elm occasional, oak, birch, some willow and mature larch, pine, poplar, spruce, fir, sycamore and beech. The density of non-native, mature (P1900), ornamental species increases around the Spa Hotel. The understorey is generally quite frequent on steeper slopes and sparser elsewhere and contains hazel, elm, ash, birch, sycamore and beech with hawthorn and blackthorn occasional. On the lower slopes adjacent to the river there are areas of wet woodland, with predominantly alder with ash and hazel. Rowan and hawthorn occur, whilst yew can be found on cliff ledges, one of few native-Northumberland localities. The woodland was extended in 2004 when over 13ha to the north east of the wood was planted with native trees. The woodland flora is quite rich and is composed of nutrient-loving water demanding species such as dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis), water avens (Geum rivale), tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia caespitosa) and on slightly more acidic slopes woodrush (Luzula sylvatica) and wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa). Richer flushes include the rare variegated horsetail (Equisetum variegatum) and wood fescue (Festuca altissama); with yellow saxifrage (Saxifrage aiziodes) a once widely distributed mountain plant. Badgers and red squirrels habit the Gorge and the bird life is rich and includes waders, waterfowl, dippers, yellow wagtail, common sandpiper and hen harrier and 6 notable species of beetle were identified on site in 1998.
A public footpath crosses the woodland leading to Wardrew Lodge and Farm to the east and a permissive path connects the woodland via a span bridge to the Gilsland Spa Hotel to the southwest. To the west the footpath exits over a span bridge leading to a local feature known as the Popping Stone said to be where Sir Walter Scott 'popped the question' to his future wife. Much of the northern section of the wood is inaccessible on foot but can be viewed from the adjacent bridleway, just outside the eastern boundary. The river is popular for fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
