An Ancient Woodland with a long and surprising industrial history. Permissive paths and a public bridleway allows the opportunity to make longer circular walks including using the paths in nearby Beamish Wood in County Durham.
Access from High Forge near Beamish.
Grid reference: NZ 225 540
Tree Felling at Ousbrough Wood Autumn 2011
Major tree felling works are currently taking place at Ousbrough Wood this Autumn.
The Wood which has been owned and managed by the Council since 1995, is an Ancient Woodland Site, part of which was planted with non-native softwood trees such as Corsican Pine, Larch, Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir in the 1960s.
As part of the Council’s commitment to wildlife and biodiversity, felling works are being carried out to restore the Wood back to a more natural state. Funding for this work is being provided by the Forestry Commission.
Felling work is involving the removal of Pines and Larch from over half of the Wood to allow the natural regrowth of native tree species and to revive the native flowers which have been shaded out for many years by the non-native softwood trees.
While undertaking the works to fell and extract the timber from the wood there will be a certain amount of disruption. This will involve the temporary closure of areas of the wood for public safety, including permissive paths, but no public rights of way. Once the extraction works are complete the permissive paths will be restored and re-opened again.
For your own safety please take notice of any path closure notices on site during felling and DO NOT USE THESE PATHS. The main bridleway through the Wood will remain open through out the works but users, especially horse-riders, please be advised that machinery may be being operated in proximity to the bridleway.
Similar works will also be taking place at the Council’s Wood at Thornley Woods.