Scargill House

Scargill House is a retreat centre in the North Yorkshire Dales near Kettlewell. Originally built in the 18th century, Scargill House has been developed significantly over the years and since the early 1960s has been a Christian retreat, conference and holiday centre.

As an ecumenical, non-denominational Christian community Scargill welcomes people of any or no faith but runs a varied programme that seeks to enhance and support the spiritual lives of our guests.

Scargill woodland is a mixed coniferous and broadleaved woodland. It forms a prominent feature of Upper Wharfedale where in general woodland cover is poor. It is situated on a west facing terraced limestone scar.

In the late 1940's extensive new planting of coniferous species was carried out, (Sitka/ Norway Spruce, Corsican/ Scots Pine and Larch). The primary objective of which was to create cover for rearing pheasants.

From that time until 1987 there was little or no active woodland management, no silvicultural thinning was carried out, boundary walls and fences were not maintained in a stock proof condition, nor were rabbits controlled.

A 15-year management agreement was signed with the Yorkshire Dales National Park in 1988 which came to an end in 2003. During this period the woodland was made stock proof. Silvicultural thinning was carried out together with new planting of indigenous broadleaved species to join up isolated parts of the woodland. The woodland has been managed primarily to maintain its landscape and amenity value as well as to enhance biodiversity.

The exclusion of livestock has resulted in the development of abundant Ash regeneration throughout much of the woodland. Ash being the indigenous climax species.

Silvicultural thinning to favour indigenous species whilst still retaining the mixed character of the woodland is continuing on the Scargill estate. A tree planting project was also undertaken in 2013 to provide screening in order to apply for planning permission.

The planting of trees was carried out by students at Craven College in Skipton.

Between 2007 and 2013 the woodland received less attention due to staffing/ financial pressures which is why we have put in place a three year plan to plant up a variety of indigenous species into selected areas of the woodland. This will in turn increase biodiversity and allow for succession species in areas where the age and type of tree is relatively uniform.

We host regular conservation working parties to enable species to thrive that were once rare on the estate, such as the Brown Argus butterfly. Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies can also be seen here. Just a few flowers to be found in the woodland include Wood Avens, Agrimony, Devil's-Bit Scabious and Common Enchanter's Nightshade.

We also manage a small area of hay meadow, which is a great example of Upper Wharfedale grassland in its natural state. Yarrow, Field Scabious, Silverweed, Restharrow, Meadow Vetchling, Eyebright and Yellow Rattle are amongst the flowers that grow there.

Photo Gallery

Tree Species at Scargill House

Since 2014 EFORESTS has worked with the land owners and local volunteers to plant 600 new native tree species.

The following tree species were planted on the site:

IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.

To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.

Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.

Dedicate a tree to be planted in Yorkshire or elsewhere in the UK.