Welcome to primrose wood, pocklington

The mature trees were probably planted in the early 1900s and were part of Major Percival Stewart’s former estate and Burnby Hall Gardens. A majority of the wood is still owned by the Stewart’s Trust and is leased to Pocklington Town Council to care for. Traces of the old Beverley to York railway line can be seen along the South side.  

Spring visitors will experience the wood coming alive with Bluebells, Snowdrops, Wood Anemones, White Sweet Violets and Primroses – the wood’s namesake. Colourful Common Knapweed and Meadow Cranesbill can be discovered near the old railway line.

The oldest trees include a grove of Beech, Scots Pine, Hawthorn, Italian Black Poplar and Sycamore. Read about them on the information panels. More recent plantings of Wild Cherry, Oak, Rowan, Field Maple, Spindle and Dogwood provide plenty of seeds and berries for wildlife.

The mature tree cover and open glades provide a mix of sunlight and dappled shade. This diversity attracts a wide range of birds and mammals. Some make their homes here including hedgehogs, bats and songbirds including Coal Tits and Robins. Other visitors are more fleeting like hunting Tawny Owls and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and numbers swell in Summer with visiting Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs and Blackcaps. 

Butterflies and moths can be found amongst both the flowers and trees.

Bird and bat boxes are being installed by Greener Pocklington amongst the trees. Different entrance styles suit different songbirds including blue tits, coal tits, wrens, robins and blackbirds. They are made from woodcrete which means they last longer and are more predator proof. Both Common and Soprano Pipistrelle bats are found in the wood.