Incredible invertebrates
Many invertebrates are associated with decaying wood, so Hardcastle Crags provides an ideal home for a number of significant species, including fungus beetles, rove beetles, moths and ants.
To help look after our invertebrates, we often leave fallen trees and branches where they drop to provide a cosy home for these smaller residents.
Plant life at Hardcastle Crags
This ancient semi-natural woodland is a mixture of native broadleaf trees (including oak, birch and alder) and planted areas of beech and pine.
A rich variety of plant life can also be seen, with species such as great woodrush, bilberry, wood sorrel and climbing corydalis. These flowers poke up from the woodland floor, hidden amongst the greenery, providing a splash of colour throughout the trees.
During May, the bluebells are the real stars of the woodland. These delicate flowers are scattered throughout the valley, creating a rich carpet of blue when they burst into bloom.
Fungi, bryophytes and lichens
Did you know Hardcastle Crags is a special place for Goblins Gold, Dog Lichen and Portuguese Feather-Moss?
Lichens and bryophytes (liverworts, mosses and hornworts) thrive in this area because of the high humidity in the deep valleys. There are also numerous fungi, with over 400 species noted by local naturalists.