Hookstone Wood comprises approximately 20 acres of ancient semi-natural woodland, two ponds and the world famous living willow causeway.
Hookstone Wood is one of the last remaining parts of the ancient Knaresborough Forest. It has been owned by King George III and several renowned local families, for example Alexander Wedderburn, Daniel Lascelles and Sir Joseph Radcliffe.
The wood is home to many wintering birds, helped by the bird tables erected by Harrogate Borough Council. Birds sighted in the wood in 1997 include Gold Crest, Nut Hatch, Wren, Tree Creeper, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, various Tits and, around the ponds, Ducks and a Kingfisher.
Bat boxes have been erected in the coppiced area to encourage these mammals. Other small mammals include rabbits, squirrels, moles, hedgehogs and a fox has been sighted by members on a number of occasions.
73 different types of fungi have been recorded in the wood by local expert Dr Cundall and 13 species of butterfly were seen in 1996 by Dr Foggitt.
The ponds within Hookstone Wood were part of a millstone quarry from 1847 to 1897, when they were flooded overnight. Legend has it that a blacksmith, whose cottage was located in the quarries, drowned. The remains of this cottage can now be seen in the area where the pond has separated.
The ponds were registered on the Special Invertebrate Register in 1981 as ten species of dragonfly and damselfly were recorded.
There were three ponds in the wood, but unfortunately the beautiful Convent Pond (locally known as Jesper's pond) was filled in 1972 - this now forms part of the quarry area which was subject to the infill application and subsequent protest in 1996.
The "Living Bridge" or "Living Causeway" was designed and constructed by Mr. Jamie McCulloch in 1995, following a nationwide competition launched by the Mercer Gallery in association with the Open Country Project. The structure is the only one of its kind in Europe, and indeed there is only one other like it in the world.
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