Sweden Wood

Our Land

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 across the Rydal valley.

We have helped Friends Member Dr Julian Eldridge with its management since 2012 and the wood was gifted to us in his Will in 2021. 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.

This wood is highly unusual because of its historic past. A survey was undertaken by the Lake District National Park Authority in 2012. Although there are no features that appear on the Historic Environment Record, there are a number of terraces and other features which 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.

Why is it called Sweden Wood?

Author Robert Gambles says this about nearby Sweden Bridge:

Sweden Bridge:

‘The bridge on the land cleared by burning.’ Sweden, from Old Norse, svithinn or swidden meaning ‘burnt’.

*From Lake District Place-names by Robert Gambles

Virtual Tour

Pay a virtual visit to Sweden Wood with an aerial 360 degree panorama. Explore the woodland, find out about its history, our work in the woodland, our achievements and our plans for the future.

Directions

Extreme care needs to be taken in this wood as there are some very steep drops off the top of these terraces!

Accessed via Sweden Bridge Lane, Ambleside. The woodland is a short walk from Ambleside, which can be reached by bus for more information on bus routes and timetables see: Lake District Buses - Visit The Lake District | Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)

Litchen guide

Our woods are home to various litchens. Download a printable guide to what you might find here.

Latest

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Land Management

We own and manage land across Cumbria and the Lake District. This work is coordinated by our property manager Jan Darrall. Read more about our work in her Land Manager's Diary detailing the amazing work carried out by our volunteers and providing updates on site visits, events and our plans for the future.
Location Map

Our land includes valleys, native woodlands, moorlands, uplands and commons. We encourage you to get out and visit some of these hidden Cumbrian treasures!
Little Asby Common

Friends of the Lake District is working with the commoners to enhance the character of this limestone landscape. The area is Open Access Land, so you are free to explore the site. Why not come and see some of the work we are doing?
Mazonwath

Mazonwath is a small site lying next to to Little Asby Common. It enjoys common rights and our purchase of the property in 2009 has allowed us to help protect the common and help the commoners with stock management to manage the common in a more environmentally friendly way.
High Borrowdale

High Borrowdale is situated 8.5 miles north of Kendal, where we've planted trees, hedges and created new upland hay meadows. The best way to access it is from the A6, south of Shap. There is open access at all times and if you can't physically visit it, why not take a virtual tour?
The Helm

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Rusland Woods

In 2017 we were given Bull Coppice and Resp Haw Wood, on the eastern side of the Rusland valley. The two woods form a block of ancient semi natural woodland, and are a mix of oak, birch, ash, small leaved lime, holly and other native species. A survey in 2023 revealed that some of the coppiced trees here are over 1000 years old.
Middle Bleansley

In March 2022 we were given 16 hectares of land, split between woodland and grazing land, at Middle Bleansley near Broughton in Furness in the Duddon estuary; now our most southerly piece of land.
Gillside Wood

Through the generosity of Friends members and the landowners, we planted 6,000 trees in 2014/15, creating a new 7 hectare native wood along Tongue Gill beck, Grasmere. The new woodland provides a haven for red squirrels, and food supplies for many declining woodland birds. It is also an important wildlife corridor, connecting habitats together.
Dam Mire Wood

A two hectare piece of land in Threlkeld gifted by member Prof Mike Hambrey. We've built a bridge across Kilnhow Beck and created a new path to the access the land, and worked with West Cumbria Rivers Trust and Threlkeld School children to plant over 1000 trees and install 'leaky dams' to slow the flow of water.

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The Helm

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High Borrowdale

High Borrowdale is situated 8.5 miles north of Kendal, where we've planted trees, hedges and created new upland hay meadows. The best way to access it is from the A6, south of Shap. There is open access at all times and if you can't physically visit it, why not take a virtual tour?