Friends of Hagg Wood was formed in 1996 to preserve, protect and enhance the natural plant and animal life in the wood for the community.

It holds monthly conservation working parties in the wood and other enjoyable activities, including illustrated talks, social events and visits to places of conservation interest.

Hagg Wood is a coniferous plantation on an ancient woodland site that still has many remnants of the native woodland vegetation.  The wood is designated as a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS for short)

Hagg Wood is an area of woodland of 107 acres (43Ha), to the east of Dunnington, York towards the River Derwent, at Ordnance Survey reference SE 685 526.  It is situated at around 25 metres above sea level.

The wood was established as a Community Woodland in 2003. The Forestry Commission manages the wood in consultation with the Friends of Hagg Wood.

The long-term objective is to restore the wood as native semi-natural woodland, including oak, ash and other broad-leafed trees and native woodland shrubs, as well as maintaining some of the larger conifers

Publications  & Leaflets

  Checkout our Blog for the latest news and events

 

Forestry England 10 Year Plan 2024 - 2034 for Hagg Wood

 

As part of Forestry England's Plan renewal process Friends of Hagg Wood have been asked for our views on any specific issues that could impact on the proposed long-term, strategic management of Hagg Wood.  Our submission can be viewed here.

 

There will be further stages of consultation built into the forest plan renewal process. This includes consultation with statutory consultees, stakeholders and neighbours, and the public when the plan is placed on the public register by Forest England.

 

 

Hagg Wood Public Footpath Access

 

Following the Public Inquiry which was held at Dunnington Sports Centre in 2022, and at which we presented over 3000 pages of evidence, the City of York Council has confirmed that the Kexby 19 route from Intake Lane into Hagg Wood is now officially recognised as a public footpath.

 

The Countryside Code ⁽¹⁾ issued by Natural England in 2022 seeks to make enjoyment of the countryside more widely available by recommending gates rather than stiles along public footpaths wherever feasible. This is in line with Rule 1 of the British Standard BS 5709:2018 on Gaps, Gates and Stiles ⁽²⁾ that the Least Restrictive Option be preferred.

 

Unfortunately some may find the new metal stile which has been introduced along the Kexby 19 footpath at the entrance to Hagg Wood challenging to get over.  

 

 

If you have difficulty or problems using this stile, or do not think it safe for you or others you know to attempt to use, please get in touch with the City of York Council Rights of Way officer with details of your concerns:

 

Mr Russell Varley

Public Rights of Way Officer

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Email: russell.varley@york.gov.uk

and please also send us a copy of your concerns to our contact page

 

The City of York Council has issued a document to Dunnington Parish Council setting out their reasons why the stile remains in place on the public footpath into Hagg Wood. This can be viewed here.  Since more general national issues arise on access to public footpaths and the wider countryside, including by less able individuals, embodying the recommendations of Natural England and the British Standard more firmly into footpath law should become a question which is addressed by the new Government after the 2024 General Election.

 

(1) Natural England Countryside Code for land managers here

 

(2) British Standard BS 5709:2018 explained here