Take a stroll along the path through The Pinewoods and you become part of a Harrogate tradition which stretches back decades.
A guide of 1891 describes what was then Harlow Moor as the ‘rough moor where furze, gorse and heather abound in profusion’. In 1898, the Corporation bought the land adjacent to the Valley Gardens and began the process of transforming part of the moor into the pure, pine-scented pleasure it is today. The rest was acquired in 1934, and what had been a large market garden was turned into a formal pine tree plantation soon afterwards.
The area became particularly popular amongst Edwardians, with ladies, gentleman and children alike striding out to take the air. It has remained a favourite to this day.
Now, the 75 acres of pinewoods are a living link of wonderful wildlife between the Valley Gardens of Low Harrogate and the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Harlow Carr.
The pines themselves are Scots pines. You will also see other species of tree including larch, beech, oak, ash, sycamore, birch, holly, rowan and hawthorn. There is eve a Rotary Centenary Woodland to explore.*
*From a signboard at the entrance to the woodlands
This is definitely the kind of place to visit at this time of the year,Cherry! We did it at the cabin while in Georgia last month but have yet to do it here in the Netherlands. By now most of our mushrooms will be gone but the leaves are still in color here. We just need to do it! Thanks for the reminder.
We seem to have a bumper crop of mushrooms this year or maybe I have been in just the right places to find them.