Connecting the community with
our local woodland.
About Us
Friends of Hunger Hills Woods is a non-profit volunteer group that cares for Horsforth’s much-loved Bluebell Woods. Since 2006, we have worked to protect wildlife, clear and maintain paths, and keep the woodland healthy for everyone to enjoy. We also host community events – you can find our schedule below.
Our work is about people as much as nature. With every path cleared and every tree planted, we help keep Hunger Hills Woods wild, welcoming and thriving for generations to come.
Get Involved
Everyone is welcome to join us in caring for Hunger Hills Woods. From planting bulbs to clearing paths, it is a simple way to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people and make a real difference in our community.
Whether you’re looking to give your time or become a lasting part of what we do, there are many ways to get involved. Volunteering offers a chance to contribute whenever you can, while membership provides an opportunity to support us on an ongoing basis.
Upcoming Schedule
Below please find a list of our upcoming community events.
Share your Hunger Hills Woods story.
Tell us about your memories and connections to Hunger Hills Woods, and help us to build a living archive of its past and present. We want to hear from you!
History of Hunger Hills Woods
The name Hunger Hills comes from the Old English and Norse word Hangra, meaning wooded hillside. By the 18th century much of the woodland had been cleared for farming and damaged by mining. On the northern edge of the Yorkshire coalfield, Horsforth saw many shallow “bell pits” dug to reach the coal seams close to the surface.
The woodland that exists today was replanted in 1785, when Walter Spencer Stanhope of Horsforth Hall paid £4 for 3,000 saplings to create a scenic woodland bridleway known as a “riding.” In 1947 the Stanhope family donated the land to the people of Horsforth, ensuring it would be protected from development.
The woods have long been called “The Bluebell Woods,” and since 2001, Hunger Hills has been recognised as common land.