Whittle Dene

Wildlife and habitats

Animals

The banks of the burn are home to newts and otters, while an abundance of birdlife can be spotted overhead. In spring, listen for the melancholy song of the willow warbler and look out for the daring displays of male buzzards as they try to attract a mate by soaring and swooping through the sky like a rollercoaster.

Come nightfall, you might hear the soft hooting of the wood’s resident owls and spot bats flitting through the trees. At dusk and dawn, roe deer acrobatically bound through the trees. Deadwood found dotted across the woodland provides homes for wood-boring beetles.

Trees, plants and fungi

The ancient woodland of Whittle Dene is made up of a vibrant mix of trees of varying ages, from young woody shrubs to mature trees over 70 years old. On a woodland stroll you’ll mostly spot oak, ash and elm trees, interspersed with stands of alder, hazel, rowan, as well as towering conifers.

The tangled understory of hawthorn, rowan and holly is dotted with fallen trees and gnarled stumps, where fungi flourishes in the autumn. In spring, dazzling displays of ground flora range from swathes of bluebells, wild garlic and dog’s mercury to rarer blooms such as early purple orchids and guelder rose.

Elsewhere you may find wood anemone, pignut, marsh marigold and primrose, while the mill pond has been colonised with willow, alder and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage.

Habitats

The lush woods of Whittle Dene are classed as ancient semi-natural woodland, having been continuously wooded since at least 1600. Clues to the woodland’s ancient status can be found across the forest floor, where ancient indicator species such as bluebell, dog’s mercury and early purple orchid flourish. Coppiced wood provides shelter for birds and butterflies, and there is also an abundance of dead wood which recycles essential nutrients back into the soil.

History of Whittle Dene

Whittle Dene is steeped in folklore and is said to be home to fairies; it’s easy to imagine these magical inhabitants among the old tree hollows, toadstools and vibrant bluebells of the ancient woodland. The woods are also said to be haunted by the evil spirit of Long Lonkin, a notorious criminal from the 1200s.

In addition, the site has a fascinating industrial history. At the southern end of the woodland lie the ruined remains of a water-driven mill, which was used to mill corn and bleach cotton until its demise in the 1800s. The mill pond has become overgrown with willow, alder, Dutch rush and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage.

A number of woodland cabins in the local area were built as rural retreats for townsfolk, and housed evacuees during the Second World War.

Things to do in Whittle Dene

Walking

The woodland has a variety of footpaths and bridleways to explore which link in with the wider landscape, with routes leading to nearby villages. Whittle Dene is also only 2km (1.2 miles) from the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall.

You could opt for a 6km (3.7 mile) circular walk from Ovington to Whittle Dene, which takes you through the dene and past Whitte Farm before looping back to the village.