Stunning day to explore the CRT’s Margaret Wood

The beautiful bluebells at Margaret Wood in Upper Denby were admired this weekend by more than 100 visitors, who came to enjoy the centuries-old woodland. 

You may even have caught a glimpse of the stunning carpet of bluebells on BBC Look North. 

Every year we open the woodland to visitors to enjoy and take in the peaceful surroundings. 

Edward Noble, the CRT’s contractor, has looked after the site for more than 30 years. 

The CRT was gifted Margaret Wood in a legacy donation from Mr Duncan Elliot in 2001 and Mr Noble continued to work for the woodland, establishing good habitats for wildlife and allowing the bluebells to thrive. 

He said: “The open day on Saturday went very well. There must have been well over 100 people.  People just kept coming and going all day. It was a very warm day and people enjoyed it a lot.” 

Mr Noble described Margaret Wood, named for Mr Elliot’s wife, as a very special place. 

He said: “It's the peace and quiet and all the wildlife. It's like being in a different world. I go down first thing in the morning and get my tools and take my flask and sandwiches and it's just so peaceful." 

A team of CRT volunteers also help at Margaret Wood, where the open day has been held for more than two decades. 

Volunteer Andy Brown said the site is home to hundreds of birds, deer and hare. 

He said: “This time of year, we've got spring migrants. So black caps, garden warblers, common whitethroat, you can hear robins, chiff chaffs, occasionally buzzards will fly over, great spotted woodpeckers, hundreds of different birds in the vicinity. 

"We occasionally get roe deer and we've seen hares boxing on the clearing." 

The CRT is always looking for new volunteers to join us, so if you are interested, please email as at [email protected] 

Volunteer manager Leslie Hackett said: “Volunteering with us is a great way to meet like-minded people and help us to regenerate the countryside.”

More ways to support us

If you want to help us protect local wildlife and habitats in other ways you can join as a CRT Friend, attend our in-person and online events and volunteer on one of our farms. You can also sign-up to our monthly newsletter 'CRT News' for regular updates from our farms, straight to your inbox.