Kielder Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kielder Forest |
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Kielder Forest and reservoir, looking north-west from Yarrow
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| Map | |
 Location in Northumberland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Northumberland, England |
| OS grid | NY665905 |
| Coordinates | 55°12′29″N 2°31′41″W / 55.208°N 2.528°W |
| Area | 250 square miles (650 km2) |
| Administration | |
| Governing body | NY665905 |
Kielder Forest is an enormous forestry plantation in the county of Northumberland in northern England. It wraps around the quiet village of Kielder and a massive artificial lake called the Kielder Water reservoir. This magical woodland covers an area of 250 square miles (650 km2). That makes it the largest man-made forest in England! Three-quarters of this massive stretch of land is completely covered by trees. Most of the woods belong to the Kielder Water and Forest Park. The southern section, called Wark Forest, sits inside the Northumberland National Park. The trees grow right along the wild Anglo-Scottish border.
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The Story and History of Kielder Forest
Today, the entire woodland is cared for by a government group called Forestry England. Long ago, during the 1920s, the group was known as the Forestry Commission. Great Britain had used up much of its timber during wartime and urgently needed fresh supplies of wood. The planners wanted a giant strategic reserve of growing trees so the nation would never run short again.
Planting the First Trees in the 1930s
During the 1930s, finding work was very difficult for many families across the country. The British Ministry of Labour stepped in to help unemployed workers. Many hardworking men arrived from the coal-mining communities and big shipyards of North East England. The government built instructional centres to house these workers while they dug ground and planted young trees. By 1938, there were 38 of these special training camps across Britain. The old hut camp at Kielder now lies deep beneath the water of the giant reservoir. The planners even designed complete new settlements, known as a purpose-built village, such as Stonehaugh, so the forestry workers and their families had comfortable houses.
How the Landscape Changed Over Time
Before planting began in the 1920s, this land looked entirely different from the thick forest we see today. It was mostly vast, windy moorland covered with heather. Landowners managed the open hills for grouse shooting and for grazing large herds of sheep. Only small patches of natural old woodland survived along steep streams and crags. The government spent public funds to buy the land and start a giant tree plantation. At first, the only goal was growing wood. By the 1960s, managers realized the land was also wonderful for nature and outdoor adventures.
Ancient Secrets and Hidden History
Humans explored these wild valleys thousands of years before the first modern trees were planted. Visitors can discover ancient archaeological treasures hidden beneath the shady forest canopy. Long ago, local raiders known as the border clans fought across this territory during a turbulent time of raids and battles. Old ruined farmhouses and stone earthworks remind explorers of the tricky frontier between nations.
Geography of the Remote Border Hills
People use the name "Kielder Forest" to describe both the woods and the wild hills around them. These high rolling hills reach toward the famous Cheviots range in the north-east. Because very few people live here, the landscape feels super remote and peaceful.
The High Peaks of the Forest
The highest summit in the whole area is called Peel Fell, which towers 602 m (1,975 ft) into the northern sky. Other famous hills include special high summits called Marilyns, like Larriston Fells and rocky Sighty Crag. These peaks are exciting challenges for outdoor explorers because there are hardly any paved roads anywhere near them. Sighty Crag holds the special record of being the furthest hill from any road in all of England! You have to hike at least four miles across rough ground just to reach its base.
The Amazing Trees of Kielder
Kielder is an evergreen wonderland packed with millions of tall cone-bearing trees. These species have needle-like leaves that remain green all winter long.
Conifer Trees That Love the Rain
The undisputed king of Kielder Forest is the sturdy Sitka spruce. Sitka spruce trees cover an amazing 75% of the planted ground. This tough evergreen comes originally from North America and loves the wet, rainy climate of northern Britain. Another 9% of the forest is planted with Norway spruce, a classic tree often used as a Christmas tree. Another 9% consists of lodgepole pine, an evergreen that handles cold soils well. Other lovely evergreens growing here include the native Scots pine, needles of the larch, and huge trunks of the Douglas-fir.
Native Broadleaf Woodlands
Foresters do not plant only evergreens. They also nurture many varieties of leafy broadleaf trees to support woodland wildlife. These pretty deciduous trees include silver birch, hardy mountain rowan, sweet wild cherry, and grand old oak trees. Near bubbling streams and damp gullies, visitors spot the broad leaves of beech and flexible branches of wetland willow.
Harvesting Sustainable Timber
Kielder is not just a scenic park; it is also a working tree farm that produces incredible amounts of lumber. Every single year, foresters harvest around 475,000 cubic metres of usable wood. Giant machines process the logs to supply local sawmill factories. The wood is used to make useful materials like chipboard for building, paper pulp for books, and clean wood fuel pellets for heat.
Modern foresters take great care of the land when they harvest trees. In the past, they used only clearfelling, which means cutting down an entire block of trees at once. Today, they increasingly use clever systems like continuous cover tree harvesting, removing only selected trees so the forest never disappears completely. When an area is harvested, workers quickly replant it with a healthy mixture of evergreens and leafy broadleaf trees. They also leave bright open clearings and protect the damp riverside habitats so insects, frogs, and fish can thrive. All the wood gathered here is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, showing it is harvested safely.
Wonderful Wildlife and Rare Creatures
Because Kielder is so huge and quiet, it has become an important sanctuary for rare British animals. Large parts of the park are protected as a site of special scientific interest. Experts work hard to repair the ancient peat bogs known as the Border mires, which store carbon and protect rare bog plants.
The Kingdom of the Red Squirrel
One of the most famous creatures living in Kielder Forest is the adorable red squirrel. Over recent decades, red squirrels have become very rare across England because non-native grey squirrels took over their territory. Kielder Forest is now home to around 50% of all the wild red squirrels left in England! It is the biggest and safest refuge for them in the entire nation. Visitors who walk quietly through the trees can visit a special squirrel viewing hide near the water to watch them nibble on tasty pine cones.
Fantastic Birds of Prey and Big Animals
The quiet skies above Kielder make an awesome home for soaring birds of prey. In 2009, a pair of magnificent fish-eating osprey birds built a nest in the forest for the first time in over two centuries. They loved the quiet lake so much that they returned year after year to hatch fluffy chicks. Soon, more ospreys arrived to build their own twig nests high in the branches. By 2016, four pairs were raising eleven healthy chicks together!
Under the thick branches below, graceful roe deer roam through the ferns and nibble on tasty shoots. Because these woods are so vast and have so few noisy roads, wildlife experts have studied the area as an ideal place for a future wildcat reintroduction. Scientists interested in bringing back the spotted Eurasian lynx to Great Britain look at Kielder Forest as a top candidate because it mimics the big cat habitats of Europe, similar to protected areas for the Iberian lynx.
Outdoor Fun and Exciting Activities
Kielder Forest is packed with fun adventures for hikers, bike riders, and stargazers. It offers miles of trails winding around peaceful shores and dense trees.
Exploring Kielder Castle
Near the start of the deep valley where the River North Tyne begins, you can explore the stone walls of Kielder Castle. This grand building was built in the 18th century as a hunting lodge for the powerful Duke of Northumberland. Today, it serves as a bustling visitor centre near Kielder Village. Families visit the castle to pick up trail maps, rent mountain bikes, visit picnic clearings, and explore the forest drive. The grounds have a fun sporting past too; way back in 1790, an enormous, historic football match was played here between rival teams from Tynedale and Redesdale!
Outdoor Art Installations
While trekking along the wooded paths, hikers might run into strange and wonderful pieces of modern outdoor art. One famous artwork is the Skyspace, an unusual stone chamber designed by the artist James Turrell that frames the changing colors of the sky. Another amazing stop is the Wave Chamber, an inventive camera obscura built inside a stone mound by artist Chris Drury that projects moving reflections of water onto the walls.
Stargazing at the Kielder Observatory
Kielder Forest has some of the darkest night skies in all of mainland Britain! Towns and cities produce lots of bright street lighting, making it difficult to see the stars. Here, the local government turned down late-night street lamps to create an official dark sky park. High on a hill sits the famous Kielder Observatory. Inside this modern wooden building, astronomers use powerful telescopes to look at distant glowing galaxies, shooting meteors, and spinning planets.
Forest Sports and High-Speed Rallying
People love testing their athletic skills in this giant wilderness. In 2010, the famous British runner Steve Cram helped start the annual Kielder Marathon, where athletes race all the way around the giant reservoir.
The forest gravel tracks are also world-famous for exciting rallying car races! For years, top drivers in the international WRC raced their cars through the woods during the tough RAC Rally. The tracks feature long straight sections where cars travel at lightning speeds, followed by sudden sharp corners and very steep drainage ditches. Racers nicknamed the bumpy stages "Killer Kielder" because the rough tracks broke so many car engines. Today, top drivers in the British Rally Championship still race through the woods, sending gravel flying. The wild scenery was even featured when explorer Michael Portillo rode trains nearby on his show Great British Railway Journeys, looking at the region using a historic Bradshaw's Guide. Kielder Forest remains one of Britain's greatest man-made wonders!
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