Yewbarrow Woods

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.2767, -3.0011

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (2) Favourable (2) Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SD343879 Unfavourable No Change 15.92 2019-05-21
SD346876 Favourable 29.91 2019-05-21
SD348869 Favourable 28.71 2019-05-21
SD352867 Unfavourable No Change 25.93 2019-05-21
SD355871 Unfavourable Declining 12.24 2019-05-21

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Description The Yewbarrow Woods are situated on the flanks of Yewbarrow, a ridge of ground forming the watershed between the Rusland Valley and the River Leven, two kilometres north west of Newby Bridge. They lie within the well wooded foothills of the Cumbrian mountains and display the range of woodland types typical of the area. Extensive stands of oak and birch are interspersed with stretches of ash and alder that are associated with the numerous stream valleys that cut through the woodland. The Yewbarrow Woods are however, as their name suggests, particularly notable for their extensive stands of yew Taxus baccata. This species is more commonly associated with the limestone woodlands to the east such as at Arnside Knott SSSI and Scout and Cunswick Scars SSSI, but it is uncommon on the more acid soils that dominate South Cumbria and at Yewbarrow the species is unusually abundant. The site contains some of the largest stands of yew so far identified in South Cumbria. On the upper edges of a number of Cumbrian woodlands there is a transition to juniper Juniperus communis scrub and then heath. This is well developed at Yewbarrow where the most extensive and dense stands of juniper adjacent to woodland in South Cumbria are to be found. A similar but smaller example is to be found at Dodgson Wood SSSI adjacent to Coniston Water. The woodland is chiefly composed of oak Quercus petraea and birch Betula pubescens with the occasional beech Fagus sylvatica. Yew is scattered throughout and with holly Ilex aquifolium, hazel Corylus avellana and occasionally hawthorn Crataegus monogyna it forms a partial understorey to the main woodland stands. However, yew is particularly frequent on crags on the upper slopes of the wood and in Yewbarrow Dale it is the main canopy tree. The field layer is oftendominated by grasses such as wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa and creeping soft grass Holcus mollis but species such as foxglove Digitalis purpurea, wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, heath bedstraw Galium saxatile, herb Robert Geranium robertianum and bracken Pteridium aquilinum are not uncommon. However, as would be expected, large areas of bare ground occur under beech and in the dense shade of the yew. Numerous small streams pass through the woodland and the richer soils of their valleys support ash Fraxinus excelsior and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus with some wych elm Ulmus glabra and the occasional small leaved lime Tilia cordata. hazel is an important component of the understorey. On ill drained, wetter ground alder Alnus glutinosa is characteristic. Here too a more diverse woodland flora is present with much dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood melick Melica uniflor and false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum along with bugle Ajuga reptans, wavy bitter cress Cardamine flexuosa, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, primrose Primula vulgaris and wood speedwell Veronica montana, with the occasional ferns such as scaly male fern Dryopteris affinis, beech fern Phegopteris connectilis and in rock crevices the delicate brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis. On the upper western slopes of the wood the woodland gradually thins out leaving yew, oak, birch, hazel, juniper and holly, dwarfed by their exposure to the winds blowing in from nearby Morecambe Bay, scattered amongst a grass heath community of heather Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, wavy hair grass and heath bedstraw. In the more sheltered conditions of the south eastern facing valley side there is a transition on a larger scale, with woodland giving way to a broad swathe of mature and tall holly, yew, juniper, birch and pine gradually merging into a large and dense stand of juniper.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis CR fern woodsiaceae
scaly male-fern Dryopteris affinis LC fern dryopteridaceae
beech fern Phegopteris connectilis LC fern thelypteridaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
creeping soft grass Holcus mollis LC grass poaceae
bugle Ajuga reptans LC herb lamiaceae
wavy bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa LC herb brassicaceae
foxglove Digitalis purpurea LC herb plantaginaceae
heath bedstraw Galium saxatile LC herb rubiaceae
herb Robert Geranium robertianum LC herb geraniaceae
yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum LC herb primulaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
wood speedwell Veronica montana LC herb plantaginaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
bell heather Erica cinerea NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Speckled footman
Coscinia cribraria
Critically Endangered Vaccinium myrtillus
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus petraea
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula vulgaris
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Digitalis purpurea, Teucrium scorodonia
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Pteridium aquilinum, Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca ovina
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Alnus glutinosa, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Erica cinerea, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus petraea
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Vaccinium myrtillus
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum
Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia gilvago
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Rosy marsh moth
Coenophila subrosea
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Betula pubescens
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Tilia spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
The Silurian
Eriopygodes imbecilla
Near Threatened Galium saxatile, Vaccinium myrtillus
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Galium spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Brachypodium sylvaticum
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus petraea
Scarce hook-tip
Sabra harpagula
Near Threatened Tilia cordata
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Galium spp.
Scotch burnet
Zygaena exulans
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
White prominent
Leucodonta bicoloria
Regionally Extinct Betula spp.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Plant communities

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 15 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Geranium robertianum, Holcus mollis, Ilex aquifolium, Juniperus communis, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Taxus baccata, Teucrium scorodonia, Ulmus glabra

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 11 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Galium saxatile, Geranium robertianum, Holcus mollis, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Teucrium scorodonia

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 10 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum, Cardamine flexuosa, Corylus avellana, Digitalis purpurea, Geranium robertianum, Holcus mollis, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Pteridium aquilinum, Teucrium scorodonia

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 7 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Oxalis acetosella, Phegopteris connectilis, Vaccinium myrtillus

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa