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Biodiversity
Cleatop Park Wood is a semi-natural
semi-natural woodland with areas of plantation. The semi-natural woodland is dominated by birch and oak with ash, willow, holly, rowan and alder. Larch, pine and beech dominate the planted area, although remnant oak and birch trees remain.
Cleatop Park Wood is an example of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Upland Oakwood priority habitat.
Over the past few years biodiversity surveys have been undertaken by members of Craven Conservation Group. There are also research opportunities as dissertation projects. For further details contact Dominick Spracklen (email:dominick at env.leeds.ac.uk)
Description
Cleatop Wood is situated at an elevation of 170 - 265 metres above sea level on millstone grit, much of it on a west south west facing slope.
The wood is classified as oak woodland: National Vegetation Classification (NVC) W16 Quercus-Betula-Deschampsia and W10 Quercus-Pteridium-Rubus. Areas that have been underplanted with beech may also be classified as W15 Fagus-Deschampsia.
Details from the Parish Wildlife Mapping Work 2002/2003 report from Craven Conservation Group. Further details from this report will be added shortly.
Research opportunities
There are exciting research opportunities to help understand the importance of Cleatop Wood for biodiversity and carbon storage. Cleatop Wood is a mix of ancient semi-natural woodland and Planted Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS), where the original woodland has been replaced with plantation species. Research projects will help understand the difference between semi-natural woodland and PAWS and will help guide the woodland management plan.
Examples of possible projects include:
1) Comparison of biodiversity in semi-natural woodland and PAWS The project would compare biodiversity in the semi-natural woodland to the in the PAWS. The project could focus on ground flora, birds or butterflies. Field surveys would be carried out in both semi-natural and PAWS habitats.
2) Carbon storage in semi-natural woodland and PAWS The project would compare above-ground biomass in semi-natural woodland and PAWS. Field surveys would make an inventory of tree diameter and height.
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