About Sweden Wood

Sweden Wood is on the north eastern outskirts of Ambleside, just off the popular path up to the beautiful Scandale Valley. It forms part of a wooded valley following Scandale Beck. There are wonderful views from here across to the Langdales and the Rydal valley. In 2012 we started helping Friends of the Lake District member Dr Julian Eldridge with its management, and the wood was gifted to us in his Will in 2021.

This wood is highly unusual because of its historic past.  A survey by the Lake District National Park Authority in 2012 mapped  several terraces (pictured) and other features that are of interest. From Ordnance Survey maps, these seem to pre date 1863 and are likely to have been features as part of a landscaped garden.

Our work here

With the help of a Forestry Commission grant we have planted the wood with native broadleaved species and in particular winter berry species to help attract declining bird species such as spotted flycatcher and wood warblers. There are also a number of exotic species of trees planted by Dr Eldridge.  Our volunteers help maintain the walls, trees and paths.