The Past
Howell Wood lies at the westernmost point of the Borough, in the Parish of Clayton with Frickley. Dating back to the 1700's the Wood was planted mainly as a game reserve by William Marsden of Burntwood Nook, a small stone mansion on the hilltop 1 mile away. When the wood was planted, the surrounding land was farmed for arable crops, probably looking much as it does today. The underlying rock was mined for coal and by the late 1800's the wood had been acquired by the Dymonds, a local family whose wealth centred on coal mining.
Present
The Northern part of the wood is now a Country Park and is open to the public all year round. No longer the joy of just a few landowners, Howell Wood Country Park is a well-loved place for local people; a place to walk the dog, have a picnic, or spend time enjoying the seasonal pleasures this woodland brings.
Future
As well as woodland walks and peaceful atmosphere, Howell Wood is valued for its wildlife. With all this in mind, Doncaster's Countryside Service is managing the wood for future generations - your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The ice-house
In the 1800's the gardeners from Burntwood Nook would have spent the coldest days of winter collecting ice from the fishing lake. It was crushed and packed in the 18' (6m) deep wall of the Ice House, layered between straw for additional insulation.
Nowadays the Ice House is an ideal place for numerous insects, bats and other small mammals to make a home.
How to get there
For directions to this woodland please ring the number at the top of this page.
By Bus:
Telephone Travel South Yorkshire on 01709 515151 for full details of all bus services.
If you require further information about countryside activities, then please email us at countryside.interpretation@doncaster.gov.uk
