Congratulations to Scoobrock for FTF within hours of the cache being published! The following descriptions are adapted from FHHW website, www.hungerhillswoods.org. The name “Hungerhills” has nothing to do with malnutrition – it likely comes from the Old English word “hanger” meaning a “wood on a steep slope”. By the 18th century the native woodland had been diminished by agriculture and devastated by mining. The northern fringe of the Yorkshire Coalfield was close to the surface here, and many “bell pits” were dug to exploit it for local use. The present woodland was replanted by Walter Spencer Stanhope of Horsforth, who in 1785 paid £4 for 3,000 saplings, to create a “riding”, a scenic woodland bridleway. The ha-ha that he built along that bridleway can be seen in the heart of the woods.
In 1947 the Stanhope family donated the woodland to the people of Horsforth, the deed of gift protecting the woods from development. In 1974 ownership passed to Leeds City Council. In 2001 the area became “common land”, when Rawdon Common was removed from common land status for use by Leeds Bradford airport, and ancient law required Leeds Council to substitute an equivalent area. Boulder Clay, sandstone and shale produce an acid soil and many native wild flowers thrive on poor ground. In May the wood is full of bluebells and there is a diversity of bird and animal life.
Friends of Hunger Hills Woods are a non-profit group which is run by a committee of members who liaise with the owners of the space, Leeds City Council. The Friends come from the local community and give up their time to make sure that we can all enjoy the beauty, nature and peace and quiet which is Hunger Hills Woods.