Shibden Hall a Grade 11 listed building was the home of noted 19th century diarist Anne Lister (1791- 1840) From the hall gardens a tunnel leads under Shibden Hall Road to Cunnery Wood, so named because of the large number of rabbits (Coney) which once made it their home.
Here Anne (known as Gentleman Jack of the recent TV series) created the Halls Kitchen Garden (c1836) although now, despite a large amount of relatively recent construction work having been carried out is very overgrown. Remains of the garden can still be seen today however, in particular the base and pillars of a large glass house and site of the head gardener’s house.
The garden and woodland now Cunnery Wood Local Nature Reserve provides a variety of habitats for wildlife with a stream, pond and marshy areas. Part of the area has been replanted with native trees but the odd cultivar can be found growing in and amongst them which give a hint of the areas history cultivation . Of interest was a Berberis Darwinii (Darwin’s Barberry) growing tall and wild with orange flowers just coming into bloom as it grew to its full height in competition with other trees.
As we walked on the air was alive with birdsong, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch were notable sightings. We found what we believed was an Oysterling sp mushroom growing on a decaying fallen tree trunk next to some attractive unidentified bright orange spot fungi. The interesting greyish green cup shaped fruit bodies of a lichenised fungi were found in a more heath like habitat. Further up the valley the blue bells were still putting on a good show at the end of the season.
It was a joy to walk up this tranquil and peaceful little valley amongst the trees dressed in their spring green foliage.
Sue N