Kingmoor South Nature Reserve

Location.

Situated to the north west of Carlisle, Kingmoor South Nature Reserve has many access points. On foot you can access the Reserve off Oakshaw Close, Lowry Hill Road, Kingmoor Road and Westmoor Road. There is limited car parking at Westmoor Road, and at Kingmoor Road.

Facilities.

Kingmoor South Nature Reserve is latticed with many well maintained footpaths (wheelchair accessible) offering visitors a relaxing countryside experience on the doorstep.

Amongst the woods are some interesting resting places and woodland sculptures, picnic benches and information points.

Habitat and Wildlife.

The woodland in Kingmoor is a well established mix of mainly oak, beech, hazel and birch and sycamore. There are three small ponds, some managed coppice woodland and hay meadows, all offering a wide range of habitats for many different species of wildlife.

Woodpeckers and owls are regular visitors along with buzzards, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, and of course the occasional red squirrel.

Park Opening Times: All day, every day.

History.

This area has been enjoyed by the public for nearly 700 years. King Edward III gifted the original moorland to the citizens of Carlisle in 1352. Granting grazing rights and allowing peat cutting for fuel.

Kingmoor was the first venue for the world's oldest surviving horse racing prize, the famous Carlisle Bells. The larger bell which dates back to 1580 has the following inscription: 'The swiftes horse thes bell to tak for mi lade Daker sake', (The swiftest horse this bell to take for my Lady Dacre's sake). The Carlisle Bells can be seen in the Guildhall Museum in Carlisle.

The site was designated as a Nature Reserve in 1913, making this one of the oldest in the country.

Kingmoor in now the largest area of woodland in Carlisle, with some trees over 250 years old.