Caulms Wood Park

Formally a quarry, Caulms Wood Park sits above the Kirklees town of Dewsbury. It is an area of open and mobile land along the scarp slope of Crackenedge roughly between Hanging Heaton Golf Course to the east and Batley Beck to the west and north of Dewsbury.

In the past a coalmine, a quarry and a couple of working farms occupied the site. During WW2 an anti-aircraft barrage was situated at the northern end of the wood near to the ginnel leading to Grasmere Road.

There are several footpaths cross the area including The Kirklees Way and with a mixture of exposed rock, woodland and walkways, the park has a lot to offer the community.

Caulms Wood is a highly valued ‘lung’ for Dewsbury. A green area which runs practically into the town centre. It affords a way of connecting to nature denied to many of our fellow citizens; an insight into the wildlife, vegetation, geology and meteorology of the region. It is important to popularise the area.

With stunning views of Dewsbury, Batley and beyond, Caulms Wood Park is perfect for dog-walkers and nature-lovers alike.

Mountain bikers have shifted tons of rock to build exciting trails in less frequented parts of the wood, marked by spectacular jumps requiring great skill to negotiate. Children of all ages have used the place as a playground, building dens, playing in the ponds and sledging down the many steep slopes. Bird watchers look out for the kestrels which hang on the westerly winds swept up by the terrain.

This year is the start of something new for Caulms Wood Park and if you are interested in helping improve the site - gardening, litter picking, trimming of over-grown trees, cleaning graffiti, planting wild flowers - please get in touch.

Contact:

• Andrew Goff (Kirklees Council) andrew.goff@kirklees.gov.uk
• Search Natural Kirklees www.naturalkirlees.org
• Mellisa caulmswood@outlook.com