HANG BANK WOOD
SHEFFIELD

To download a map and trail leaflet of the Gleadless Valley woods click here.

This small woodland is one of seven Heritage Woodlands in the Gleadless Valley, which lies only 2 miles south-east of Sheffield city centre. Until its development as a residential district in the 1950's and 60's, this was a rural area consisting of hedge-lined fields, woodlands and scattered trees. The valley is still remarkable for the way in which a network of open spaces has been retained, both within the development, and between it and neighbouring built-up areas.

The majority of Hang Bank Wood lies on a steep slope and this gives rise to its name, 'Hang' being an Old Norse word meaning steep bank. A smaller limb of woodland runs northwards along a small, narrow, dry valley.

Although no documentary evidence exists, the flora, shape, boundaries, archaeological features and terrain of Hang Bank Wood strongly suggest that it is an ancient woodland, in other words, one that has been in existence for at least the last 400 years. Planting has strongly influenced the mixture of trees now found in the wood, non-native species such as Beech, Sycamore and Common Lime being frequent. However there is still a good range of native trees, including the only mature Yew trees in the Gleadless Valley.

Other Heritage Woodlands in the Gleadless Valley:

• Buck Wood
• Carr, Ashes & Coneygree Woods
• Herdings Wood
• Lees Hall Wood
• Rollestone Wood
• The Lumb